Flores Scops Owl
Flores Scops Owl ( Otus alfredi )
The Flores Scops Owl ( Otus alfredi ), also referred to as Floreseule, is a species of owl of the genus Scops owls. It is endemic to the Sunda island of Flores. The specific epithet honors the naturalist Alfred Hart Everett, in 1896 the type specimens collected.
Features
The Flores Scops Owl reached a size 19 to 21 centimeters. The wing length of 137-160 mm and tail length of about 78 mm. The face veil is dark reddish brown. The eyebrows are white. The small, round ear tufts are reddish brown. The front has fine white wavy lines. The reddish-brown upper head is unmarked. The top is solid dark reddish brown with no harness or shaft stripes. At the back neck collar small white triangles are visible. The outer webs of scapulars are white and filled with big brown stains. The hand and arm swing are reddish brown and white banded. The tail is not ties. The underside is off- white. The chest is sometimes tinted reddish brown and shows a pale, fine, dark wave drawing with a reddish brown banding. The feet are smaller than other scops owl species in relation to body. The legs are thick feathered except on bare distal third. The eyes are yellow, the face veil edge is pink, the beak and cere are orange-yellow, the toes are dull - yellow and the claws are yellowish - horn color without dark tips. The young birds are almost monochromatic light reddish brown with an indistinct banding, but more pronounced tail binding than in the adult birds.
Vocalizations
The voice of Flores Scops Owl was recorded only in 2005. The call consists of a single, sharp, short UH, which is reproduced at an interval of 1.5 to 2.5 seconds. Territorial calls are frequent and include an eye-catching, short emission of loud, rapid staccato tones that sound like UH -UH -UH -UH -UH. Each phrase contains 5 to 13 tones.
Distribution and habitat
The Flores Scops Owl is only from Ruteng and from Todo Mountains in western Flores known. It inhabits moist forests at altitudes above 1000 m.
Way of life
About the lifestyle of Flores Scops Owl is not known. You probably breeds in tree holes.
Status
The Flores Scops Owl was long known only from the three type specimens from 1896, before it was rediscovered in 1994. A young bird was caught and photographed in May 1994. An adult bird was collected in March of the same year, but not determined until 1998 as unique to this type belong. Other sightings occurred in the years 1997, 2005, 2006 and 2008. BirdLife International classifies the Flores Scops Owl in the category of " high risk " ( endangered ), and estimates the backlog at 1000-2500 copies. The main hazard is considered habitat destruction.