Otus bikegila
Otus bikegila, commonly known as the Principe Scops Owl, is a diminutive and recently described raptor, strictly endemic to the small island of Principe in the Gulf of Guinea. Measuring approximately 18-19 cm (7-7.5 inches) in length and weighing around 78-83g (2.7-2.9 oz), it is a small to medium-sized owl within its genus. Its plumage is typically rufous-brown, intricately mottled with darker streaks and fine barring, providing exceptional camouflage within its forest habitat. Distinctive f...
This species exclusively inhabits the humid primary lowland and mid-elevation rainforests of Principe Island, primarily within the protected Obô Natural Park. It favors dense, undisturbed forest with a well-developed canopy and understory, from sea level up to approximately 700 meters.
Its diet consists primarily of arthropods, including large insects like moths, beetles, and crickets, which it hunts using a perch-and-pounce method within the forest understory and canopy.
The Principe Scops Owl is strictly nocturnal, becoming active shortly after dusk to begin foraging and calling from concealed perches within the forest canopy or mid-story. It employs a classic sit-and-wait foraging strategy, scanning for prey with its keen eyesight and hearing before swooping do...
The Principe Scops Owl has an extremely restricted geographic distribution, being strictly endemic to the small volcanic island of Principe, part of the nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, located in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa. Its entire known range is confined to the remaining...
Critically Endangered
- The Principe Scops Owl was only formally described as a new species in 2022, a testament to ongoing biodiversity discoveries. - Its unique call, a short, rapid "tuu" note repeated every two seconds, was the key identifier that distinguished it from other owls. - It is strictly endemic to Princi...