Mentawai Scops Owl
Otus mentawi
Mentawai Scops Owl (Otus mentawi) — Owls of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mentawai Scops Owl (Otus mentawi) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 105 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Otus
- Species mentawi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 105 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mentawai Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Mentawai Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mentawai Scops Owl (Otus mentawi) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Mentawai Is. (w of c Sumatra).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 105 g, with a wing length of about 16 cm and a tail of around 7.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6,120 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mentawai Scops Owl?
The Mentawai Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 105 g.
Where does the Mentawai Scops Owl live?
The Mentawai Scops Owl is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Mentawai Is. (w of c Sumatra), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Mentawai Scops Owl belong to?
The Mentawai Scops Owl (Otus mentawi) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Mentawai Scops Owl eat?
The Mentawai Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mentawai Scops Owl migrate?
The Mentawai Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mentawai Scops Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Mentawai Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Mentawai Scops Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mentawai Scops Owl's range?
The Mentawai Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 6,120 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.