Mahé I, in Seychelles. Unconfirmed reports also from Praslin and Félicité.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 250 - 318 (2010) and stable.
Status EN
Habitat destruction due to logging, conversion to agriculture and development, predation by introduced mammals are the mian threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
A loud, far-carrying, rasping, continuous 'waugh waugh'. Also various 'tok tok' notes.
Seychelles Scops Owl (Otus insularis) [XC26204]
by Ross Gallardy from Near La Mission, Mahe Is., Seychelles, Seychelles (song)
Seychelles Scops Owl (Otus insularis) [XC26203]
by Daniel Lane from Near La Mission, Mahe Is., Seychelles, Seychelles (song)
Nest
In a cavity of a tree about 7 - 25 m above the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
1 but sometimes 2. Incubation: 21 - 28 days.
Young
Fledge in about 28 - 42 days.
Subspecies
Otus magicus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Flores Scops-Owl (Otus alfredi) following Widodo et al. (1999), Siau Scops-Owl (Otus siaoensis) following Lambert and Rasmussen (1998), Enggano Scops-Owl (Otus enganensis) following Andrew (1992), Seychelles Scops-Owl (Otus insularis) and Biak Scops-Owl (Otus beccarii) following Holt et al. (1999) and Moluccan Scops-Owl (Otus magicus).
Originally placed in monotypic genus Gymnoscops on basis of its unfeathered tarsi and feet, and vestigial ear-tufts. Formerly considered subspecies of Madagascar Scops-Owl (Otus rutilus), but vocalizations totally dissimilar. Sometimes treated as subspecies of Moluccan Scops-Owl (Otus magicus), this is supported by voice comparisons, but long isolation from all forms of Moluccan Scops-Owl (Otus magicus), as well as morphological differences, suggest better regarded as a separate species.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet