Wallace's scops owl or lesser Sunda scops owl is endemic to the Sumbawa and Flores islands, in the Lesser Sundas chain of Indonesia. It is not rare in most of its habitat and has no subspecies except for the nominate. It is also known as the Lesser Sunda scops owl. It is named after Alfred Russel Wallace, a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, and biologist.
Region
Lesser Sunda Islands
Typical Environment
Occurs on Sumbawa and Flores in a range of wooded habitats, including primary and secondary evergreen forest, monsoon woodland, and forest edge. It adapts well to disturbed areas with tall trees, agroforestry plots, and riverine strips. By day it roosts close to trunks or in dense foliage, relying on camouflage. At night it hunts within the understory and along clearings and trails.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Wallace's scops owl is a small nocturnal owl endemic to the Indonesian islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sundas. It frequents forest edges and secondary growth, where its cryptic plumage and ear tufts make it hard to spot by day. Its call is a soft series of whistles and trills that carries at night. The species commemorates Alfred Russel Wallace, the famed British naturalist.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with silent, low glides between perches
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Nests in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes, with both adults attending the young. Territorial calling peaks at night, particularly around dusk and before dawn.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, repetitive series of whistled notes and short trills, often delivered at regular intervals. Calls are subdued but carry well in still night air, used for territory advertisement and pair contact.
