Oriental Scops Owl

Scientific Name: Otus sunia
Malay Name: Jampuk Kecil Asia
Chinese Name: 红角鸮

Range:
Found from northeastern Pakistan to the Indian subcontinent, China, southeastern Siberia, Japan, Korea and Indochina with the northern populations wintering south to the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Sumatra

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: japonicus, stictonotus, malayanus, sunia, distans, rufipennis, leggei, modestus, nicobaricus

Size: 19 cm

Local Subspecies: malayanus

Identification: Adult greyish morph resembles Sunda Scops Owl but is smaller and has greyish-brown upperparts and head, bold dark streaks on whitish underparts, yellowish eyes and blackish bill. Adult rufous morph resembles greyish morph but has orange-rufous upperparts and head.

Similar looking species: Sunda Scops Owl

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, secondary growth, wooded areas, parks and gardens.

Behavior/Ecology: Feeds mainly on insects and spiders.

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)

Location: Fort Canning, Mount Faber, Central Catchment Forest, Sungei Buloh, Kent Ridge, Pulau Ubin, Seletar Country Club, Bidadari and Dairy Farm Nature Park.

Photos:

Greyish morph Oriental Scops Owl at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Lawrence Cher

Greyish morph Oriental Scops Owl at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Raymond Siew

Greyish morph Oriental Scops Owl at Dairy Farm Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Greyish morph Oriental Scops Owl at Dairy Farm Nature Park. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai

Rufous morph Oriental Scops Owl at Dairy Farm Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Rufous morph Oriental Scops Owl at Dairy Farm Nature Park. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

Reference:
Craig Robson (2011) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia