Madagascar Scops-Owl

About the Madagascar Scops-Owl

The Madagascar scops owl (Otus rutilus), also known as the Malagasy 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 (O. r. madagascariensis), previously considered a separate species. The nominate O. r. rutilus is referred to as the rainforest scops owl.

The Madagascar scops owl is a relatively small owl with short, rounded wings and short erectile ear-tufts on top of the head. There are three morphs recorded of this species: a grey morph, a brown morph and a rufous morph. Features which stand out from the main plumage color are the pale eyebrows, light spots on the scapulars and the barring on the wings and outer tail feathers. Sometimes the crown and the underparts are streaked. The bill has a black tip and may be dull green through to yellowish-grey and the eyes are yellow. They measure 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) in length and have a wingspan of 52–54 cm (20–21 in).

Two formerly distinct species were identified by different habitat preferences, with Torotoroka preferring drier habitats and rainforest preferring wetter forests. Some small plumage and vocal differences... Wikipedia →