[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Otus sagittatus | [authority] Cassin, 1848 | [UK] White-fronted Scops Owl | [FR] Petit duc a front blanc | [DE] Weissstirn-Eule | [ES] Autillo Frentiblanco | [NL] Maleisische Dwergooruil
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Region | Range |
| Otus | sagittatus | OR | Malay Peninsula |
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
Medium-sized, long-tailed scops-owl. Dark rufous to rufous-chestnut upperside, broad whitish forehead-patch and eyebrows, extending to ear-tufts. Underparts have dark vermiculations, white markings and dark spots. Bluish-white bill, dark brown iris. Similar spp. Reddish Scops-owl O. rufescens is smaller, darker with dark bars on primaries. Voice A hollow, monotone, whistled hoooo has been attributed to it, but it appears to call rarely
Listen to the sound of White-fronted Scops Owl
[audio:https://planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/White-fronted Scops Owl.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
| size min.: | 27 | cm | size max.: | 29 | cm |
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| broods: | 0 | eggs min.: | 0 | ||
| eggs max.: | 0 |
Range
Oriental Region : Malay Peninsula
Habitat
It is resident and nocturnal in old-growth and regenerating evergreen or mixed deciduous forests of level lowlands and hill-slopes to at least 700 m. Limited mist-netting data indicates that it sometimes frequents dense or open lower storeys of mature forest, but may not inhabit recently logged forest.
Reproduction
In Malaysia and Thailand, the breeding season is apparently February-March.
Feeding habits
Insects, chiefly moths, are its only documented food items.
Conservation
This poorly known species has a small, rapidly declining, severely fragmented population which is dependent on lowland or foothill forest, much of which has been destroyed or degraded within its range. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.
Otus sagittatus is known from Tenasserim, Myanmar, south-west Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. It appears to be locally distributed and scarce throughout its range. However, its true status is unclear as it is difficult to detect and it may be more common than records suggest
Otus sagittatus is known from Tenasserim, Myanmar, south-west Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. It appears to be locally distributed and scarce throughout its range. However, its true status is unclear as it is difficult to detect and it may be more common than records suggest
Migration
Presumed sedentary
Distribution map
