Flores Scops Owl
Otus alfredi
The Flores Scops Owl (Otus alfredi) is a legendary owl found only in Indonesia, weighing about 123 g. The Flores scops owl is an owl endemic to the island of Flores, Indonesia.
About the Flores Scops Owl
The Flores scops owl is an owl endemic to the island of Flores, Indonesia. It is threatened by habitat loss. This owl is around 19–21 cm from head to tail. They are a forest dwelling owl that is smallish in size. Some 2,500–9,999 individuals are estimated to be extant in the wild, dwindling due to habitat loss.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Flores scops owl is a small and compact owl. The species has short, rounded, and broad ear-tufts and a white vermiculation on the forehead. It has an orange-yellow beak, located above which are long and reddish rictal bristles, similar to mammalian whiskers. It possesses a red-brown facial outline, dark rufous feathers along the side of the neck with white bases, small white triangles on its hind-neck and white scapular spots with brown tips. It has a tiny tail that is barely visible, dense feathers on the legs, and dark orange-yellow claws. Voice: Single calls made by the Flores scops owl are quick and sharp notes, which are translated as "UH!" sounds and last 1.5-2.5 seconds with a frequency of 0.6-0.9kHz. Territorial calls are more prevalent among the Flores scops owls. They are described as a distinctive "short burst of loud, rapid staccato notes" and are translated as "UH-UH-UH-UH..." with frequencies similar to single calls.
When to see it
Best months: February, August, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Flores Scops Owl?
- The Flores scops owl is a small and compact owl. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Flores Scops Owl?
- The Flores Scops Owl is a medium sized bird weighing about 123 g.
- Where can you see a Flores Scops Owl?
- The Flores Scops Owl is endemic to Indonesia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Flores Scops Owl?
- The Flores Scops Owl is most easily confused with the Rinjani Scops Owl, the Mindoro Scops Owl and the Karthala Scops Owl.
- Is the Flores Scops Owl endangered?
- The Flores Scops Owl is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Flores Scops Owl for real
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