- Otus moheliensis
Identification
C. 22 cm. An uniform-looking scops-owl with reduced ear-tufts. Occurs in two morphs.
Brown morph
- Rufescent brown plumage
- Spotted and barred blackish on crown and upperparts, especially on nape
- Some blackish shaft streaks
- Paler cinnamon outer webs on scapulars
- More rusty-cinnamon facial disc and underparts
- Blackish shaft streaks on breast, flanks and belly with finer darker bars
Rufous morph
- Similar to rufous morph but more rufous-cinnamon all over
Both morphs with lower third of tarsus unfeathered, yellow eye and horn bill. Juveniles undescribed.
Distribution
Endemic to Mohéli, Comoro Islands.
A critically endangered restricted-range species. Population estimated at c. 400 birds, threatened by ongoing habitat loss.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Recently discovered, described in 1998.
Habitat
Found in dense humid forest on hillsides. Also in degraded forest but there in lower densities.
Occurs from 450 to 790 m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds probably on insects.
Breeding
No information available.
Movements
This is presumably a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Moheli Scops Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Moheli_Scops_Owl
