Rajah scops owl

The Rajah scops owl (Otus brookii) is found in Borneo and Sumatra. There are two subspecies namely Otus brookii brookii found in Borneo and Otus brookii solokensis found in Sumatra.[2] The bird is named after James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak.[3]

Rajah scops owl
Adult O.brookii solokensis from Mt. Kerinci, Sumatra.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Otus
Species:
O. brookii
Binomial name
Otus brookii
(Sharpe, 1892)

Description

Adults have a fierce looking face; Body overall dark brown; when perched, blackish crown and white ear tufts visible; underparts brownish with thick black streaking. Orange iris distinct. The subspecies Otus brookii solokensis is different in plumage from O. b. brookii in having darker underparts; streaking thicker and nuchal collar less distinct. Juveniles of O. b. brookii remain un-described. O. b.solokensis has rufous upperparts and vermiculations on the underparts.[4]

Juvenile Rajah Scops Owl

Vocalizations

O.b.solokensis has an explosive "owh" or "Owh-Owh" barking call lasting about a half second and repeated irregularly.[4]

Habitat

It is uncommon in montane forests above an altitude of 1100m. It can be found perched in the lower canopy.[4]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Otus brookii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. The Handbook of the Birds of the World.
  3. Duncan, James R. (2003). Owls of the World: Their Lives, Behavior and Survival. Firefly Books. pp. 206. ISBN 9781552978450.
  4. James A. Eaton, Bas van Balen, Nick W. Brickle, Frank E. Rheindt (2016). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago Greater Sundas and Wallacea. ISBN 978-84-941892-6-5.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)


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