Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 50 - 249 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Habitat clearance for agriculture, timber extraction and charcoal manufacture, degradation through human disturbance and invasion by exotic plants, possible nest predation by introduced black rat Rattus rattus, nest hole competition by Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
A distinct, drawn-out whistle, often repeated and separated by short interludes.
Anjouan Scops Owl (Otus capnodes) [XC403494]
by Ross Gallardy from Pomoni, Anjouan, Comoros (song)
Anjouan Scops Owl (Otus capnodes) [XC403495]
by id from Pomoni, Anjouan, Comoros (call, song)
Subspecies
Otus rutilus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Pemba Scops-Owl (Otus pembaensis) following Fry et al. (1988), Anjouan Scops-Owl (Otus capnodes) following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), and, more recently, into Torotoroka Scops Owl (Otus madagascariensis) and Mayotte Scops-Owl (Otus mayottensis) following Rasmussen et al. (2000) and Madagascar Scops-Owl (Otus rutilus) (with species limits accordingly revised).
Probably forms superspecies with Grand Comoro Scops-Owl (Otus pauliani), Moheli Scops-Owl (Otus moheliensis) and Madagascar Scops-Owl (Otus rutilus). Sometimes treated as subspecies of Madagascar Scops-Owl (Otus rutilus), but analysis of vocalizations and plumage characters indicates specific status appropriate.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet