Ryukyu scops owl
Strigiformes / Family: Strigidae
- Total length
- 22 cm
- Range
- Resident on the Ryukyu Islands (south of the Tokara Islands). *The subspecies O. e. interpositus is a resident of the Daito Islands.
A small but skilled hunter with silent wings, superb vision, and long, sharp talons. In the diorama, it seems that it has just caught an insect again.
The upperparts of its body are brown, while the underparts are a pale reddish-brown. Its back is grayish-brown with mottled black spots.
During the day, it rests on branches in dark woods, becoming active at dusk. Throughout the night, it emits a "kohou" hoot at regular intervals, and during the mating season, males and females call to each other. Its calls can be heard year-round, especially in the mountains and their foothills on Tokunoshima. From spring to summer, it breeds in tree hollows, using them as nesting sites.
Habitat of This Animal:
B:Forest along the mountain ridge - B1:Forest near the settlement
Most of the forests in Tokunoshima Island are secondary forests that were once cleared in the past. Especially near the settlements, there are forests that have become well-lit thanks to recent pruning. Remains of paths, charcoal kilns, and fields form a reminder of the relationship between people and nature. Such forests accessible from settlements are inhabited by many living creatures fond of the well-lit environment.
This B1:Forest near the settlement