Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Status NT
Loss of coastal forest due to clearance and conversion for agriculture (particularly coconut, banana and cashew plantations and rice cultivation), road development projects (which threaten to fragment habitat blocks, particularly on Great Nicobar), and expansion of human settlements, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Nicobar Scops Owl (Otus alius) [XC295864]
by Sudhir Garg from Nicobar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India (call, some night insects only)
Nicobar Scops Owl (Otus alius) [XC295561]
by id from Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India (call)
Subspecies
Otus scops (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into African Scops-Owl (Otus senegalensis) following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Oriental Scops-Owl (Otus sunia) following AOU (1998), Nicobar Scops-Owl (Otus alius) following Rassmussen (1998) and Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops) (with species limits accordingly revised).
Probably forms superspecies with Simeulue Scops-Owl (Otus umbra) and Enggano Scops-Owl (Otus enganensis). Original specimen collected in 1966 initially listed as subspecies (nicobaricus = modestus) of Oriental Scops-Owl (Otus sunia), though long wings unlike all forms of that species; second specimen collected in 1977, and the two suspected of belonging to an undescribed taxon, tentatively placed with an "expanded" Moluccan Scops-Owl (Otus magicus). Subsequently treated as subspecies nicobaricus (= modestus) of Oriental Scops-Owl (Otus sunia), or as a form of Moluccan Scops-Owl (Otus magicus) without subspecific allocation, but in one case listed as "Otus sp.". Recent examination of both specimens, along with comparisons with all other Otus taxa of non-mainland south-eastern Asia (north to Philippines), led to conclusion that they were sufficiently distinct in plumage and morphology to warrant recognition as separate species.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet