LILY ARISON RENE DE ROLAND
Did You Know?
- There is a lot for us to learn about the Madagascar Scops-owl. Not much is known about their diet or breeding habits!
- This owl is sometimes called the Rainforest Scops-owl
- Though it might sound strange, not all researchers recognize the Madgascar Scops-owl as an individual species. They still lump it together with another, very similar looking owl, the Torotoroka Scops-owl, which is also found through a large area of Madagascar.
How The Peregrine Fund is Helping
Though The Peregrine Fund doesn't work directly with the Madagascar Scops-owl, we have a very strong conservation program in Madagascar. Apart from the studies we conduct on several endemic raptors, we work hand in hand with the locals to help foster conservation on the island. Among our three conservation areas, we have assisted communities in planting more than 215,000 saplings to restore forests and establish plantations for food and jobs. We have fostered a professional staff of more than 30 Malagasy people, many with advanced degrees, who contribute scientific knowledge and lead their communities in conservation.
Additionally, our efforts in scientific research, habitat conservation, education, and community development help conserve birds of prey around the world. We also supply literature to researchers from our avian research library, which helps scientists around the world gather and share important information on raptor conservation.
Where They Live
The Madagascar Scops-owl is endemic to Madagascar. It is found mainly throughout the northern and eastern parts of the island. Within its range, it makes its home is a wide variety of habitat types from rainforest to secondary forest and even city parks. In some areas, it is generally found from sea level to around 2,050 meters above sea level.
What They Do
Like many owl species, the Madagascar Scops-owl is nocturnal - meaning it hunts, flies, calls, and goes about all its daily activities under the cover of night. During the day, it roosts on a branch that has dense foliage. This makes the owl harder to see and allows it to rest without having to worry too much about predators.
This small owl occurs in three different color morphs, which is quite common among the owls in the Otus genus. The three color morphs are rufous, brown, and gray. Regardless of which color they are, these owls tend to have a pale-colored facial disc. At this point, you might be wondering what a facial disc is. It is a set of feathers around the bird's head that it can raise and lower at will. This facial disc, when raised, helps direct sound to the owl's ears, kind of like a parabolic dish! This helps it detect prey by using its hearing, as well as its sight.
Why They Need our Help
Because some researchers don't yet consider the Madagascar Scops-owl as its own species, not enough research has been done to determine the status of this species' population. As far as we know, this owl seems to be relatively common and doing well.
What They Eat
There is still so much to learn about the dietary habits of the Madagascar Scops-owl. Researchers know that it feeds mainly on beetles and moths, but it likely also takes small vertebrates. We have yet to discover what techniques this small owl uses to catch its prey or how much it might consume in one night.
Nest, Eggs, and Young
Unfortunately, researchers don't know very much about the Madagascar Scop-owl's nesting and breeding behavior. It likely doesn't build its own nest, but instead lays its eggs in tree cavities. Though it still hasn't been confirmed, there is also a chance that this small owl nests on the ground sometimes. Apart from this, not much else is known. Some reports indicate that the female will lay between 2-5 or 3-4 eggs and that she alone will incubate them. But nothing has been confirmed. How many nestlings hatch, how quickly they develop and how long they stay with their parents after fledging are questions about this species that scientists have yet to answer!
Madagascar Scops-owl and The World Center for Birds of Prey
The World Center for Birds of Prey offers fun ways to learn about birds of prey. Interactive activities, tours, interesting videos and a children's room with activities from coloring sheets to quizzes to costumes and a touch table are available for the curious mind. It is a great place to learn about owls. Wild Barn Owls can sometimes be seen in the area. And we have several Avian Ambassador owls!
Come meet Rusty, our Eastern Screech-Owl, and Winston, our Western Screech-Owl. Or Wally, our lovely Verreaux's Eagle-Owl. These avian ambassadors are often out greeting visitors during bird presentations and sit comfortably on their handlers' gloves, which allows you to get a close up view of these exceptionally cute raptors.
References:
Holt, D. W., R. Berkley, C. Deppe, P. L. Enríquez, J. L. Petersen, J. L. Rangel Salazar, K. P. Segars, K. L. Wood, J. S. Marks, and G. M. Kirwan (2021). Madagascar Scops-Owl (Otus rutilus), version 2.1. In Birds of the World (B. K. Keeney, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.masowl1.02.1
