[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Otus hartlaubi | [authority] Giebel, 1849 | [UK] Sao Tome Scops Owl | [FR] Petit duc de Sao Thome | [DE] Hartlaubeule | [ES] Autillo de Santo Tome | [NL] Hartlaubs Dwergooruil
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
Members of the genus Otus are the Scops and Screech owls. They are relatively small owls, with short, rounded wings. Most have erectile ear-tufts. Otus is a worldwide genus, containing some 45 species.
Physical charateristics
Small, unobtrusive owl with tiny ear-tufts. Light rufous-brown facial disc with white chin and eyebrows. Warm rufous-brown crown and upperparts with rufous vermiculations and black shaft streaks. Black-tipped white spots on scapulars. Buff and white mottling on flight feathers and narrow buff bars on tail. Finely vermiculated white, brown and rufous underparts with bold black streaking. Juvenile paler.
Listen to the sound of Sao Tome Scops Owl
[audio:https://planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Sao Tome Scops Owl.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
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| size min.: | 16 | cm | size max.: | 19 | cm |
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| broods: | 0 | eggs min.: | 0 | ||
| eggs max.: | 0 |
Range
Africa : Sao Tome
Habitat
It occurs in primary and undisturbed secondary forest up to 1,500 m, but not in plantations with shade trees.
Reproduction
It is thought that breeding takes place between August and October, just before the start of the short rains. Nesting taking place in a tree cavity or possibly on the ground, and Sao Tome scops-owl fledglings have been observed in October.
Feeding habits
The diet includes invertebrates and probably small lizards. It forages in the dense vegetation of the lower parts of the forest, dropping down onto its prey from a perch, plucking it from foliage, or snatching it from the air whilst in flight. It calls frequently at dusk or dawn and occasionally during the day.
Video Sao Tome Scops Owl
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA6bS1RrzP8
copyright: Helmut Schenkel Brunner
Conservation
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it is thought to have a small population, given the small area of suitable primary and mature secondary forest habitat within its range.
Otus hartlaubi is endemic to Sao Tome, Sao Tome e Prncipe, where it is relatively widely distributed in suitable habitat and probably has a population of several hundred birds. Reports of a small owl on Prncipe, could refer to this species, but recent searches have found no evidence of its presence.
Otus hartlaubi is endemic to Sao Tome, Sao Tome e Prncipe, where it is relatively widely distributed in suitable habitat and probably has a population of several hundred birds. Reports of a small owl on Prncipe, could refer to this species, but recent searches have found no evidence of its presence.
Migration
Presumed sedentary
Distribution map
