The Mauritius scops owl is an extinct species of scops owl that was endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius. It is known from a collection of subfossil bones from the Mare aux Songes swamp, a detailed sketch made by de Jossigny in 1770, a no less detailed description by Desjardins of a bird shot in 1836, and a number of brief reports about owls, the first being those of Van Westzanen in 1602 and Matelief in 1606. Other names for the species include Mauritius owl, Mauritius lizard owl, Commerson's owl, Sauzier's owl, or Newton's owl.
Region
Mascarene Islands
Typical Environment
Historically restricted to the island of Mauritius, occupying native lowland to mid-elevation forest and woodland. It likely favored dense evergreen and semi-deciduous forest with mature trees for roosting and nesting. Records and subfossils suggest it foraged along forest edges and in understory clearings where lizards and large insects were abundant. Loss of lowland forest and fragmentation likely compressed its range before extinction.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Mauritius scops owl was an island-endemic owl that went extinct in the 19th century, known from subfossil remains and a few historic descriptions and sketches. Also called the Mauritius lizard owl, it likely specialized on lizards and large insects in native forest. Its disappearance is attributed to habitat loss and predation by introduced mammals. It is one of several Mascarene owls formerly placed in the genus Mascarenotus.
1896 illustration by Émile Oustalet based on Jossigny's drawing
Sub-fossil remains, 1893
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; silent, low-level flights between perches
Social Behavior
Like other scops owls, it was primarily solitary outside of the breeding season. It likely nested in natural tree cavities or hollows, with pairs defending small territories. Young probably fledged from cavity nests and dispersed into adjacent forest once independent.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Reported to have low, repetitive hoots and gruff, croaking notes typical of scops owls. Calls were likely given at night from concealed perches and repeated in steady sequences during territorial displays.
Plumage
Mottled and streaked brown to rufous-brown with paler buff spotting, giving strong camouflage in forest. Underparts barred or streaked; facial disk pale and finely marked. Short but distinct ear tufts typical of scops owls.
Diet
Prey likely centered on lizards (hence the name 'lizard owl'), including skinks and geckos, supplemented by large insects such as beetles and orthopterans. It may have taken small birds or small mammals opportunistically. Hunting was probably by perch-and-pounce and short ground sorties, using acute hearing and vision.
Preferred Environment
Foraged along forest edges, understory gaps, and near ground-level where reptiles basked or moved. Roosting and hunting likely concentrated in native evergreen forest with mature trees and dense cover.
