Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Seychelles Scops Owl
Otus insularis
Seychelles Scops Owl (Otus insularis) — Owls of Oceans & Seabirds.
The Seychelles Scops Owl (Otus insularis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 144 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Otus
- Species insularis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 144 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Seychelles 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 Seychelles Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Seychelles Scops Owl (Otus insularis) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO montane Mahé (sw Inner Is., ne Seychelles).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 144 g, with a wing length of about 16.2 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 38 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Seychelles Scops Owl?
The Seychelles Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 144 g.
Where does the Seychelles Scops Owl live?
The Seychelles Scops Owl is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO montane Mahé (sw Inner Is., ne Seychelles), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Seychelles Scops Owl belong to?
The Seychelles Scops Owl (Otus insularis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Seychelles Scops Owl eat?
The Seychelles Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Seychelles Scops Owl migrate?
The Seychelles Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Seychelles Scops Owl endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Seychelles Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Seychelles 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 Seychelles Scops Owl's range?
The Seychelles Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 38 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Strigidae
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
More in Owls
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.