Philippine Scops-Owl Otus megalotis Scientific name definitions

23–28 cm; c. 200–310 g (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). With O. sagittatus, the largest of the Old World scops-owls. Occurs in grey-brown and rufous morphs. Grey-brown morph deep brown or brownish-olive above with buff vermiculations, black-tipped pale feathers on hindneck forming collar, whitish eyebrows, underparts buffish-grey with some broad black shaft markings and few thin cross-lines; rufous morph brownish-red above, generally buffy-yellow below; both morphs with barred wings and tail; tarsus feathered to toes; iris golden-brown or orange-brown; bill light brown, tipped with white; feet dull white to yellow-brown. Differentiated from O. bakkamoena by comparatively larger size. Juvenile similar to respective adult morph but more barred; rufous morph juvenile more deeply cinnamon than adult. O. longicornis, the only other scops-owl on Luzon, much smaller than present species, has more brightly coloured irides and usually occurs at higher elevations (2 Kennedy, R. S., P. C. Gonzales, E. C. Dickinson, H. C. Miranda, and T. H. Fisher (2000). A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Traditionally considered to belong to species-group centred on O. bakkamoena (which see). Formerly treated as conspecific with O. bakkamoena, but shown to be vocally distinct. Until recently was considered conspecific with O. nigrorum and O. everetti (3 Miranda, H.C. Jr., Brooks, D.M. and Kennedy, R.S. (2011). Phylogeny and taxonomic review of Philippine lowland scops owls (Strigiformes): parallel diversification of highland and lowland clades. Wilson J. Orn.. 123(3): 441–453. Close ). O. nigrorum differs from present species in smaller size (male wing 134.7 mm, range 132–139 mm, vs 175 mm, range 165–187 mm in megalotis) and having (3); white vs greyish or buffy underparts (3); tawny-rufous vs brown crown and upper facial disc, or (cf. rufous morph of megalotis) both taxa with tawny-rufous crown and facial disc but present species with white lower facial disc, forehead and ear-tufts (at least 2); no scapular line (2); feathering not covering upper foot—here treated as a mensural character, so score allowed (2). O. everetti differs from present species in lacking scapular line (2), lacking feathering on upper foot (2), and having much smaller feet (3). Proposed form whiteheadi is a synonym. Monotypic.

Luzon, Marinduque and Catanduanes, in N Philippines.

Tropical forest , secondary woodland and forest edge, generally in denser parts and in understorey; occurs mostly below 1000 m elevation, but on Mt Data, Luzon, recorded in pine forest at 2200–2300 m (4 Dinets, V. (2001). Ornithological records from Luzon during January–February 21481481, including a description of the voice of Luzon Rail Lewinia mirificus. Bulletin of the Oriental Bird Club 34: 40–41. Close ). Noted roosting among root system of partly upturned dead tree.

Little information. Stomachs of collected birds contained insects.

A loud, sudden series of 3–6 ascending notes  on falling scale, similar to O.lempiji call but notes longer; also powerful “oik oik oik ook”, with marked interval between each note.

Males captured in Mar in or approaching breeding condition; young fledgling found in Feb on Luzon. May nest in tree cavities and among roots of upturned trees (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Possibly has protracted nesting period, but very little information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Few reliable data, and no information on population size or trends. Reports of status vary from probably endangered to "fairly common" (5 Mikkola, H. (2014). Owls of the World. A Photographic Guide. 2nd edition. Firefly Books, Buffalo, NY, USA. Close ) and widely distributed (on Mt Isarog), but very little is known about this species. Because it appears to prefer densely wooded habitats, clearing and fragmentation of forests presumably are a threat, at least in some parts of range.