Photo: DickDaniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rainforest Scops Owl
Otus rutilus
Rainforest Scops Owl (Otus rutilus) — Owls of Africa.
The Rainforest Scops Owl (Otus rutilus) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 101 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 rutilus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 101 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rainforest 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 Rainforest Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rainforest Scops Owl (Otus rutilus) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e Madagascar.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 101 g, with a wing length of about 15.2 cm and a tail of around 7.9 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 591,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rainforest Scops Owl?
The Rainforest Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 101 g.
Where does the Rainforest Scops Owl live?
The Rainforest Scops Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF e Madagascar, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rainforest Scops Owl belong to?
The Rainforest Scops Owl (Otus rutilus) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Rainforest Scops Owl eat?
The Rainforest Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rainforest Scops Owl migrate?
The Rainforest Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rainforest 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 Rainforest Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Rainforest Scops Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rainforest Scops Owl's range?
The Rainforest Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 591,000 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.