The Sula scops owl, is a small owl in the scops-owl genus Otus found on the Sula Islands of Indonesia. Taxonomically, some groups consider it to be a distinct species, others a subspecies of the Sulawesi scops owl, and yet others a subspecies of the Moluccan scops owl.
Region
Sula Islands, Wallacea
Typical Environment
Occurs across lowland and foothill tropical moist forest on the Sula Islands, using both primary forest and secondary growth. It often hunts along edges, clearings, and lightly wooded gardens or plantations near villages. By day it roosts in dense foliage or vine tangles, relying on camouflage. At night it forages within the lower to mid-canopy and occasionally to the ground.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small scops-owl confined to Indonesia’s Sula Islands, it is part of a complex that has sparked taxonomic debate, with some authorities treating it as a subspecies of Sulawesi or Moluccan scops owls. It gives a series of soft, repeated hoots at night and shows typical scops ear tufts. It favors forest edges and secondary growth, making it somewhat adaptable, but ongoing deforestation on the Sula Islands is a concern for its long-term status.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches; agile through dense vegetation
Social Behavior
Usually solitary outside the breeding season, forming pairs during breeding. Nests in tree cavities or similar hollows, with a small clutch typically of 1–3 eggs. Pairs defend territories with vocal displays and posturing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, repetitive single-note hoot or a short series of toots, spaced at regular intervals. Pairs may duet with slightly different pitch, and alarm calls are sharper and more emphatic.
Plumage
Mottled and streaked with fine bars, typically in gray-brown or rufous morphs; cryptic patterning enhances camouflage.
Diet
Primarily hunts large insects such as beetles, moths, and orthopterans, and will also take spiders and other arthropods. Occasionally captures small lizards or frogs when available. Hunting is typically from low to mid-level perches with short sallies to snatch prey, or brief pounces to the ground.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, secondary woodland, and overgrown plantations, often near light gaps or trails where insects concentrate. It also works within the lower canopy and dense understory where prey can be gleaned from foliage.
