Mentawai scops owl

Overview

Wikipedia

The Mentawai scops owl is endemic to larger islands of Mentawai, off west Sumatra, Indonesia.

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Distribution

Region

Sunda Islands (Mentawai Archipelago)

Typical Environment

Occurs on the larger Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra. It inhabits primary and mature secondary lowland rainforests, forest edges, and tall mixed agroforests. By day it roosts quietly in dense foliage; at night it hunts from low to mid-level perches along forest trails and clearings. It is patchy where continuous forest has been fragmented but remains locally fairly common where canopy cover persists.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 400 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size18–20 cm

Wing Span45–55 cm

Male Weight0.09 kg

Female Weight0.1 kg

Life Expectancy10 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Mentawai scops owl is endemic to the larger Mentawai Islands off western Sumatra, Indonesia. It is a shy, strictly nocturnal forest owl that is more often detected by its soft, repetitive whistles than seen. Habitat loss from logging and conversion to plantations is the main threat, though it can persist in secondary forest and well-wooded gardens.

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short, silent wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically encountered singly or in pairs, maintaining territories within forested tracts. Nests in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes, with a small clutch laid at the start of the rainy season. Adults are attentive, moving quietly through understory perches when disturbed.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A soft, repeated whistle or hoot given at regular intervals, often delivered from a concealed perch. Calls may accelerate slightly in series and are most frequent at dusk and before dawn.

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Identification

Leg Coloryellowish-grey

Eye Coloryellow

Plumage

Cryptic, finely mottled and streaked scops-owl plumage with prominent ear tufts; rufous and brown morphs occur. Underparts are pale with dark streaking; upperparts show mottled brown with buff speckling. The facial disk is pale with a darker rim and subtle concentric barring.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds primarily on large insects such as moths, beetles, katydids, and crickets. It also takes spiders and occasionally small vertebrates like geckos or small frogs. Prey is usually taken in short sallies from low to mid-level perches and sometimes gleaned from foliage or the ground.

Preferred Environment

Forages along forest edges, interior trails, and clearings where insects concentrate. It also hunts around village groves and mixed agroforests when canopy structure remains. Quiet, low-light microhabitats are preferred for ambush.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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