Otus lempiji
The Sunda Scops Owl, Otus lempiji, is a small, cryptic nocturnal owl native to Southeast Asia, renowned for its masterful camouflage within tropical foliage. Measuring approximately 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) in length with a wingspan of around 50-60 cm and weighing 100-170 grams, this compact raptor exhibits mottled plumage of brown, rufous, and grey morphs, perfectly mimicking tree bark. Its prominent ear tufts, often raised when alert, and bright yellow to orange eyes are distinctive field mar...
This species primarily inhabits various forest types, including dense lowland rainforests, secondary forests, forest edges, plantations, and even gardens, typically found from sea level up to 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in elevation.
The diet of the Sunda Scops Owl primarily consists of large insects such as moths, beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, but they will also opportunistically take small vertebrates like geckos, small birds, and rodents, typically captured by pouncing from a perch.
Sunda Scops Owls are strictly nocturnal, emerging from their daytime roosts in dense foliage or tree cavities just after dusk to begin their hunting. They employ a classic 'sit-and-wait' foraging strategy, perching motionless on a branch, scanning the surroundings with their acute hearing and vis...
The Sunda Scops Owl is a resident species widely distributed across much of Southeast Asia, primarily found in the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, and various smaller surrounding islands. Its distribution also extends to parts of the Philippines, including Palawan and the...
Least Concern
- The Sunda Scops Owl is a master of camouflage, able to mimic tree bark or a broken branch by elongating its body and raising its ear tufts. - Despite its small size, it's a fierce nocturnal predator, relying on pinpoint hearing and excellent night vision to catch prey in the dark. - Its distinc...