The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi), lesser eagle-owl or the Mindanao eagle-owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. In size and structure, it is considered intermediate between a scops owl and an eagle-owl. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Giant scops owl
Otus gurneyi on a 2004 stamp and postcard of the Philippines
The giant scops owl was originally described as Pseudoptynx gurneyi, and later as Mimizuku gurneyi. it is now part of the genusOtus.[3]
Descriptionedit
The giant scops owl is a medium-sized bird with a length of about 30 cm (12 in). It has a reddish-brown facial disc with a narrow black edge, white streaks above the eyes and prominent ear tufts. The back of the head and the upperparts of the body are reddish-brown boldly marked with black streaks and with a line of white streaks on the scapulars. The underparts are whitish with traces of reddish-brown and bold black markings. The voice is a series of five to ten calls, "wuaah, wuaah..." with the series repeated at ten to twenty second intervals.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The giant scops owl is known only from the islands of Dinagat, Siargao and Mindanao in the Philippines. Although it has not yet been proven, it has been theorized that giant scops owls also exist on Marinduque, situated off the island of Luzon. Its habitat is primary and secondary forests, mostly at an altitude of under 670 m (2,200 ft) although it has been seen up to 1,300 m (4,300 ft). It sometimes frequents partially logged forests of Dipterocarpaceae species.[1]
Status and conservationedit
The giant scops owl is rated as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species. This is because the population is declining as its forest habitat is destroyed by deforestation and by the mining of chromite.[1] This bird was never a common species and it is thought that in 1999 there were between 3,500 and 15,000 individuals remaining consisting of 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals. Of the three islands on which it is found, Dinagat has been almost completely denuded of forest, while on Samar and Mindanao almost all the remaining forest is leased to mining or logging companies.[1] The charity "Endangered Species International" is using this owl and other endangered species on a trail in the Mount Matutum protected area to teach local people and visitors to the Philippines about the importance of preserving the habitat.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcdBirdLife International (2017). "Otus gurneyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22688911A110372685. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22688911A110372685.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ abBenstead, P.; Bird, J.; Davidson, P.; Derhé, M.; Lowen, J.; Peet, N. . Birdlife International. Archived from the original on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
^Whittington, Kate. . Archived from the original on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Otus gurneyi.
Oriental Bird Images: Giant Scops Owl 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Selected images
April 12, 2024
giant, scops, giant, scops, otus, gurneyi, lesser, eagle, mindanao, eagle, species, family, strigidae, endemic, philippines, size, structure, considered, intermediate, between, scops, eagle, natural, habitat, tropical, moist, lowland, forests, threatened, habi. The giant scops owl Otus gurneyi lesser eagle owl or the Mindanao eagle owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae It is endemic to the Philippines In size and structure it is considered intermediate between a scops owl and an eagle owl Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests It is threatened by habitat loss Giant scops owlOtus gurneyi on a 2004 stamp and postcard of the PhilippinesConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder StrigiformesFamily StrigidaeGenus OtusSpecies O gurneyiBinomial nameOtus gurneyi Tweeddale 1879 SynonymsMimizuku gurneyi Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Status and conservation 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy editThe giant scops owl was originally described as Pseudoptynx gurneyi and later as Mimizuku gurneyi it is now part of the genus Otus 3 Description edit nbsp The giant scops owl is a medium sized bird with a length of about 30 cm 12 in It has a reddish brown facial disc with a narrow black edge white streaks above the eyes and prominent ear tufts The back of the head and the upperparts of the body are reddish brown boldly marked with black streaks and with a line of white streaks on the scapulars The underparts are whitish with traces of reddish brown and bold black markings The voice is a series of five to ten calls wuaah wuaah with the series repeated at ten to twenty second intervals 3 Distribution and habitat editThe giant scops owl is known only from the islands of Dinagat Siargao and Mindanao in the Philippines Although it has not yet been proven it has been theorized that giant scops owls also exist on Marinduque situated off the island of Luzon Its habitat is primary and secondary forests mostly at an altitude of under 670 m 2 200 ft although it has been seen up to 1 300 m 4 300 ft It sometimes frequents partially logged forests of Dipterocarpaceae species 1 Status and conservation editThe giant scops owl is rated as Vulnerable by the IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species This is because the population is declining as its forest habitat is destroyed by deforestation and by the mining of chromite 1 This bird was never a common species and it is thought that in 1999 there were between 3 500 and 15 000 individuals remaining consisting of 2 500 to 9 999 mature individuals Of the three islands on which it is found Dinagat has been almost completely denuded of forest while on Samar and Mindanao almost all the remaining forest is leased to mining or logging companies 1 The charity Endangered Species International is using this owl and other endangered species on a trail in the Mount Matutum protected area to teach local people and visitors to the Philippines about the importance of preserving the habitat 4 References edit a b c d BirdLife International 2017 Otus gurneyi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T22688911A110372685 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 1 RLTS T22688911A110372685 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 a b Benstead P Bird J Davidson P Derhe M Lowen J Peet N Giant Scops owl Otus gurneyi Birdlife International Archived from the original on 2013 12 28 Retrieved 2013 08 24 Whittington Kate Giant Scops Owl Otus gurneyi Archived from the original on 2013 12 28 Retrieved 2013 08 24 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Otus gurneyi Oriental Bird Images Giant Scops Owl Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine Selected images Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Giant scops owl amp oldid 1191129116, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
