Philippine scops owl

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Philippine scops owl
Philippine Scops Owl Otus megalotis.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Otus
Species:
O. megalotis
Binomial name
Otus megalotis
(Walden, 1875)

The Philippine scops owl (Otis megalotis), also Luzon lowland scops owl is a common owl, endemic to the Philippines, belonging to the family of the typical owls Strigidae. Other common names include "Otus Whitehead", "Whitehead scops owl" and "Luzon lowland scops owl". [3] Everett's scops owl (Otus everetti) and Negros scops owls (Otus nigrorum) were formerly considered conspecific but are now classified as separate species. [4]

Contents

Distinguishing features of these birds include their large upright ears from which they get their specific name megalotis, Ancient Greek for "large ears". [5] Philippine scops owls are relatively small, sedentary birds that are naturally found in the forest understory. [4] There are three subspecies which show variations in morphology and are distributed among different islands of the Philippine Archipelago. They are a monogamous species that offer parental care and construct their nest in tree cavities. These owls are ferocious nocturnal carnivores that feed on insects and small mammals. [3] The IUCN Red List considers this species as Least Concern but they may be vulnerable to deforestation and fragmentation. [6]

Description

The Philippine scops owl is a fairly small-to-mid-sized species of owl, but is arguably the largest true species of scops owl. Adults measure from 23 to 28 cm (9.1 to 11.0 in). Their body mass can range from 125 to 310 g (4.4 to 10.9 oz), with females often considerably larger than males. [4] [7] A distinguishing feature of this owl is its large ears that stand upright on its head. They also have big eyes that are dark in the center with a red/orange edge. In general, these owls are covered in dark brown feathers with dark streaks. Their ear-tufts also have a similar pattern. Their forehead is whitish and they have a dark line around their facial disc. [3] There are three subspecies of Philippine scops owl which show three variations in morphology. The smallest morph, Otus megalotis nigrorum, has a reddish-brown color, no scapular line, and no feathers on its upper feet. The medium-sized morph, Otus megalotis everetti, also lacks a scapular line and feathers on its upper feet but it has a more greyish-brown color. Finally, Otus megalotis megalotis, is the largest of all three varieties and also has a grey-brown color but it shows a scapular line and feathers on its upper feet. [4] Other morphological differences between the subspecies can be seen in the length of the tail, the wings, the culmen and the tarsus. These traits are longer in O. m. megalotis and are shorter in O. m. nigrorum. [8]

There are no significant differences in morphology between male and female Philippine scops owls, although female scops owls tend to be larger in general. [8] The owlets, however, present some contrast as they have fluffy rufous feathers. Once they reach the sub-adult age, they are black and greyish-white until they finally reach adulthood and turn brownish. [3]

Taxonomy

The Philippine scops owl belongs to the Strigiformes order and the Strigidae family (typical owls). [4] The Strigidae family is the largest of the two families of owls and shows a great diversity, with species ranging from 40g to 40 kg. Key features that distinguish owls of this family from their closest relatives ( Tytonidae family) are their large eyes and the fact that their facial disk is circular and not heart-shaped. Otus megalotis is further classified into the Striginae subfamily according to skull morphology. [9] The Otus genus (scops owls) is one of the largest owl genera, counting approximately 50 species, yet these species are one of the smallest in size. [10] They are all found in the Old World with the exception of one species, the flammulated owl, which is found in North America. A distinguishing feature between this genus and other genera of the Striginae subfamily is vocalization. [10]

The Philippine scops owl is endemic to the Philippine Archipelago. This group of approximately 7,000 islands is prone to speciation and is a great location to study phylogeography. It was formed around 30-35 million years ago and lead to the evolution of different subspecies of Otus megalotis. The expansion and contraction of biomes during the last glaciation period as well as the topography in that area lead to isolation of individuals which eventually caused speciation. [8] There are seven Otus species in the Philippines, 5 of which are endemic to islands in the archipelago. These species include Otus longicornis, Otus mindorensis, Otus mirus, Otus megalotis and Otus fuliginosus . The other two species, Otus mantananensis and Otus elegans are not endemic to the Philippines. The three Otus megalotis subspecies are distributed among different islands of the Philippine Archipelago which suggests they could have evolved through speciation from geographic isolation. [8]

Habitat and distribution

Rainforests, mature secondary woodland forests and forest edges are typical habitats in which Philippine scops owls can be found. They are mostly observed in the understory and rarely go above 1000m altitudes, with the exception of individuals which were reported on Mount Data, Luzon. [4] Researchers caught a Philippine scops owl in a net set up at 2m above ground during their study, which confirms that they are mostly an understory arboreal species. [11]

Otus megalotis is endemic to the Philippine Archipelago but the three subspecies are distributed in different locations across the archipelago. O. m. megalotis species is found mostly in the northern islands such as Luzon, Marinduque and Catanduanes. O. m. everetti species exists in the eastern and southern islands including Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Mindanao and Basilan. Finally, O. m. nigrorum species is endemic to Negros Island. [4] These subspecies are not known to migrate and therefore have a limited distribution. [6]

Although they are classified as a species of Least Concern, habitat destruction from deforestation and fragmentation is a major threat to their population as they depend on forests for their survival. [6]

Behaviour

Philippine scops owls are sedentary birds with a limited home range. The fact that different subspecies are found on different islands limits intraspecific competition and allows these birds to have a smaller distribution where all the necessary resources are available. [4]

Vocalizations

Philippine scops owls are a nocturnal species and vocalize more actively at night. Their song corresponds to "oik oik oik ook" with long and powerful notes that are clearly distinguished from one another. The last "ook" is lower than the previous three notes. Their call sounds completely different with a series of three to six escalating notes that are loud and abrupt. From what is known, there is no difference between the call and the songs of females, males and juveniles. [4]

Diet

These carnivorous owls prey upon animals such as insects and small mammals. During nighttime, they perch in trees where the land is relatively open, which offers them a better view of the surrounding preys. They are ferocious feeders and specialize in tearing flesh. Their raptorial claws, curved bill and excellent hearing and sighting skill make them powerful predators. They have been observed to kill their victim by crushing its head, then breaking every other bone of the body to finally swallow the animal whole. This method has cost the lives of many juveniles who suffocate because the prey is too large to swallow. [3] Philippine scops owls were also noticed to feed on spider species such as Heteropoda venatoria. [12]

Reproduction

Otus megalotis is often spotted alone but has also been seen in monogamous pairs. Not a lot of information is known about their reproduction but they are thought to breed throughout the year where females will lay 1 or 2 eggs annually. Sexual maturity is reached around the age of 2 but their lifespan is unknown. [3] One juvenile with two adults have been witnessed multiple times, which supports the notion that they are monogamous birds that display care by both parents. [6]

They construct their nests in tree cavities but also among the roots of dead trees on the ground. [6]

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this bird as a Least-concern species as it has a large range and is still locally common in some areas. However, despite not being a threatened species, the population is believed to be on the decline. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range. It is also caught for the pet trade

Occurs in a many protected areas in Bataan National Park, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, Angat Watershed Forest Reserve and Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. While all of these areas are protected by law, deforestation, mining, hunting and habitat loss still continue in some of these protected areas. [13] [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scops owl</span> Genus of birds

Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus Otus and are restricted to the Old World. Otus is the largest genus of owls with 59 species. Scops owls are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and/or face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees. Some are polymorphic, occurring in a greyish- and a reddish-brown morph. They are small and agile, with both sexes being compact in size and shape. Female scops owls are usually larger than males.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese scops owl</span> Species of bird

The Japanese scops-owl is a small owl species in the family Strigidae, or true owl family. It is a member of the genus Otus, the scops owl genus. It is resident to Japan, China, Korea, and Russia.

The Karthala scops owl, also known as the Grand Comore scops owl or Comoro scops owl, is a small scops owl endemic to the island of Grande Comore in the Comoro Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andaman scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Andaman scops owl is a species of the Strigidae family and is native to the Andaman Islands of India. It is a largely brown owl with white speckles and yellow eyes. The owl was first described in 1873 by British Ornithologist Allan Octavian Hume. The Andaman Scops Owl has no sightings outside of the Andaman Islands, therefore research on this bird is limited. This owl is not threatened, though an increase in deforestation on the islands has led to the population size slowly declining. It is a nocturnal owl that feeds at night and has a nesting season from February to April.    

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flores scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Flores scops owl is an owl endemic to the island of Flores, Indonesia. It is threatened by habitat loss. This owl is around 19–21 cm from head to tail. They are a forest dwelling owl that is smallish in size. Some 250–2,499 individuals are estimated to be extant in the wild, dwindling due to habitat loss.

The Javan scops owl is a small species of owl living mainly on western Java's high volcanos; local people refer to the owl as Celepuk Jawa. Like most owls, this nocturnal bird also has a strong ability of silent flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallace's scops owl</span> Species of bird endemic to Indonesia

Wallace's 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luzon scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Luzon scops owl or the Luzon highland scops owl is a species of scops owl endemic to Luzon, Philippines. Not to be confused with the Philippine scops owl, sometimes referred to as the Luzon lowland scops owl, which is a more common species that shares the same range. The Luzon scops owl, however, is smaller and inhabits higher altitudes than its lowland relative.

The Sangihe scops owl is an owl species endemic to the Sangihe Island of Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantanani scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Mantanani scops owl, is a small owl in the scops-owl genus Otus found on small islands between Borneo and the Philippines. It is listed by the IUCN as "near threatened" because its range is limited with its population being fragmented on several different islands, and its forest habitat is being degraded by ongoing logging and clearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant scops owl</span> Species of owl

The giant scops owl, lesser eagle owl, Mindanao eagle owl or Mindanao owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Siargao and was only discovered in Samar in 2010. In size and structure, it is considered intermediate between a scops owl and an eagle-owl. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">São Tomé scops owl</span> Species of owl

The São Tomé scops owl is a species of owl in the true owl family, Strigidae. It is endemic to São Tomé Island, part of São Tomé and Príncipe, in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayotte scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Mayotte scops owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the island of Mayotte in the Comoros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pemba scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Pemba scops owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to Pemba Island which is part of and off the coast of Tanzania.

The Palau scops owl or Palau owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. Palau scops owls are dark reddish-brown with small white dots scattered across their feathers. They are endemic to the Palau Islands in the western Pacific, where they are found in woodland and lagoon trees, ravines and mangrove swamps. Palau owls nest in hollows of trees, live in groups and are territorial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainforest scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Madagascar scops owl, also known as the Malagasy scops owl or Rainforest scops owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found throughout Madagascar, now that it has recently been lumped with the Torotoroka scops owl, with which it was long considered a separate species from. The nominate O. r. rutilus is referred to as Rainforest scops owl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett's scops owl</span> Species of owl

Everett's scops owl is an owl, endemic to the Philippines, belonging to the family of the typical owls Strigidae. They are found on Bohol, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Mindanao and Basilan. This species is part of the Philippine scops owl species complex which includes the Negros scops owl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Negros scops owl, also known as the Visayan scops owl, is an owl, endemic to the islands of Negros and Panay in the Philippines, belonging to the family of the typical owls Strigidae. It has a distinct and striking rufous or reddish brown crown, nape and face. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Philippine scops owl. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting for the pet trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulu boobook</span> Species of owl

The Sulu boobook or Sulu hawk-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. It was previously known as a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other evidence suggested it was a distinct species. It is found in tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Otus megalotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22727655A94955374. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22727655A94955374.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Philippine Scops Owls | Beauty of Birds". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Holt, Denver W.; Berkley, Regan; Deppe, Caroline; Enríquez, Paula L.; Petersen, Julie L.; Rangel Salazar, José Luis; Segars, Kelley P.; Wood, Kristin L.; Marks, Jeffrey S. (2020-03-04), Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.), "Philippine Scops-Owl (Otus megalotis)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.phsowl1.01 , retrieved 2020-10-13
  5. ↑ "Meanings of scientific names of". uam-web2.uamont.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (2016-10-01). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Otus megalotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  7. ↑ Dunning, John B. Jr., ed. (2008). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses (2nd ed.). CRC Press. ISBN   978-1-4200-6444-5.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Miranda, Hector C.; Brooks, Daniel M.; Kennedy, Robert S. (2011-09-01). "Phylogeny and Taxonomic Review of Philippine Lowland Scops Owls (Strigiformes): Parallel Diversification of Highland and Lowland Clades". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 123 (3): 441–453. doi:10.1676/10-185.1. ISSN   1559-4491. S2CID   84881078.
  9. ↑ Cholewiak, Danielle. "Strigidae (typical owls)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  10. 1 2 "Scops Owls | Beauty of Birds". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  11. ↑ Paguntalan, L. M. J., Gonzales, J. C. T., Gadiana, M. J. C., Dans, A. T. L., Pedregosa, M. D., Cariño, A., & Dolino, C. N. (2002). Birds of Ban-Ban, central Negros, Philippines: threats and conservation status. Silliman J, 43(1), 110-136.
  12. ↑ Barrion-Dupo, A. L. A. (2009). Arachnophagy by the Philippine scops-owl, Otus megalotis Walden. Philippine Entomologist, 23(2), 174-178.
  13. ↑ "Philippine Trogon - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  14. ↑ Harpactes ardens: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22682839A92963343 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2016-10-01. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22682839a92963343.en.
  15. ↑ IUCN (2016-10-01). Otus megalotis: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22727655A94955374 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22727655a94955374.en.
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