Otus silvicola
The Wallace's Scops Owl, *Otus silvicola*, is a captivating nocturnal raptor endemic to the lush forests of Sumba Island, Indonesia. This relatively large scops owl, measuring 27-31 cm in length with a wingspan around 60-70 cm, boasts a masterfully camouflaged plumage of rich rufous-brown, intricately mottled and barred with darker brown and black, allowing it to blend seamlessly with tree bark. Its prominent ear tufts, which can be raised or flattened, and striking, large bright yellow eyes ...
Primarily inhabits lowland and hill evergreen and deciduous forests, often found near forest edges or clearings, from sea level up to approximately 1000 meters.
Feeds predominantly on large insects such as moths, beetles, grasshoppers, and cicadas, with occasional small vertebrates like geckos or rodents, typically ambushing prey from a perch.
As a strictly nocturnal species, the Wallace's Scops Owl spends its days roosting motionless amidst dense foliage, often pressed against a tree trunk, relying entirely on its cryptic plumage for concealment. Foraging commences at dusk, with the owl typically perching silently on a branch, scannin...
The Wallace's Scops Owl is strictly endemic to Sumba Island, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. Its entire known distribution is confined to this single island, where it is found throughout suitable forested habitats. It inhabits both lowland and hill forests, ranging from near sea lev...
Least Concern
- The Wallace's Scops Owl is named after the co-discoverer of the theory of evolution by natural selection, Alfred Russel Wallace, who extensively explored the Indonesian archipelago. - It is one of the larger species within the diverse *Otus* genus, standing out among its smaller scops owl relat...