Giant scops owl

Giant scops owl
Otus gurneyi on a 2004 stamp and postcard of the Philippines
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	Otus
Species:	O. gurneyi
Binomial name
Otus gurneyi (Tweeddale, 1879)
Synonyms
Mimizuku gurneyi

The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi), 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.

Description

The giant scops owl is a medium-sized bird with a length of about 30 cm (12 in). It has a reddish-brown facial disc with a narrow black edge, white streaks above the eyes and prominent ear tufts. The back of the head and the upperparts of the body are reddish-brown boldly marked with black streaks and with a line of white streaks on the scapulars. The underparts are whitish with traces of reddish-brown and bold black markings. The voice is a series of five to ten calls, "wuaah, wuaah..." with the series repeated at ten to twenty second intervals.

The giant scops owl was originally described as Pseudoptynx gurneyi, and later as Mimizuku gurneyi. it is now part of the genus Otus.

Ecology and behavior

Not much is known about this owl but pressumed to feed on small mammals and birds and large insects.

Birds seem to be most vocally active from February to May. No other information on breeding.

Distribution and habitat

The giant scops owl is known only from the islands of Dinagat, Siargao and Mindanao. It was only discovered through a hunter in 2010 in Samar. Although it has not yet been proven, it has been theorized that giant scops owls also exist on Marinduque,. Its habitat is primary and secondary forests, mostly at an altitude of under 670 m (2,200 ft) although it has been seen up to 1,300 m (4,300 ft). It sometimes frequents partially logged forests of Dipterocarpaceae species.

Conservation status

This species is assessed as Vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The population is believed to be declining with an estimated population of 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals.

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. Forest cover was estimated at just 29% on Mindanao, and as little as 433 km² of old-growth dipterocarp forest remained on Samar and Leyte (if this species exists there). These figures are continuing to decline due to continued deforestation.

This species is found the protected areas Samar Island Natural Park, Pasonanca Natural Park, Kitanglad Mountain Range, Mount Apo. Mount Malindang and Mount Hamiguitan.

External links

• Oriental Bird Images: Giant Scops Owl Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Selected images