Serendib Scops Owl
Encyclopedia
The Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) is the most recently discovered bird of Sri Lanka
. It was originally located by its unfamiliar poo-ooo call in the Kitulgala
rainforest by prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda
. Six years later, it was finally seen by him on 23 January 2001 in Sinharaja
, and formally described as a species new to science
in 2004. Apart from Sinharaja and Kitulgala, it has also been found at Runakanda Reserve in Morapitiya and Eratna Gilimale.
It is the first new bird to be discovered in Sri Lanka since 1868, when the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush
(then Ceylon Whistling Thrush) Myophonus blighi was discovered. It is also the 24th (according to some authorities the 27th) endemic
bird species for Sri Lanka.
The habitat of the Serendib Scops-owl is in the southern rain forests of Sri Lanka. There is an altitudinal range from 30 to 50 metres. This owl has no competition from other nocturnal birds, the territories are completely different. This species has a very small population, at the end of January 2006 only 80 of them were known to exist. The places that it is expected to be found are in five protected areas, like the Forest Reserve or the Proposed Reserve by Sri Lanka. They seem to be declining because of the loss of habitat and the degradation. The first two hours of darkness is when the owl hunts for its food.
This rare species inhabits the rainforests in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. Like most owl
s, it is strictly nocturnal and hunts insect
s (e.g. beetles and moths) close to the ground. It begins calling at dusk, its frequency rising again some two hours before dawn.
Unlike the other two species of scops owl
in Sri Lanka, Collared Scops Owl
Otus bakkamoena and Oriental Scops Owl
Otus sunia, it does not have ear tufts and its facial disc is only weakly defined. The general colour of this 16.5 cm long, short-tailed owl is reddish brown with paler underparts, spotted all over with fine black markings. The irides
are tawny yellow (more orangish in male) and the feet are a pale fleshy colour. Tarsi are feathered for less than half their length. The claws and bill are a pale ivory colour.
, and if so, whether it was actually a new discovery or a re-discovery.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It was originally located by its unfamiliar poo-ooo call in the Kitulgala
Kitulgala
Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rain forest, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless, it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month...
rainforest by prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda
Deepal Warakagoda
Deepal Warakagoda is a prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist. His early working career was in electronics, but for many years he has studied birds and also works as a professional guide for birding tours of the island....
. Six years later, it was finally seen by him on 23 January 2001 in Sinharaja
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO....
, and formally described as a species new to science
Bird species new to science
This article describes bird species new to science since 1900. Prior to the 20th century, and indeed into its early decades, the pace of discovery of new species was fast; during this period, with numerous collecting expeditions into species-rich areas not previously visited by western...
in 2004. Apart from Sinharaja and Kitulgala, it has also been found at Runakanda Reserve in Morapitiya and Eratna Gilimale.
It is the first new bird to be discovered in Sri Lanka since 1868, when the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush
Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush
The Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush, Myophonus blighi, is a whistling thrush in the thrush family Turdidae. It is a resident endemic bird in Sri Lanka....
(then Ceylon Whistling Thrush) Myophonus blighi was discovered. It is also the 24th (according to some authorities the 27th) endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
bird species for Sri Lanka.
The habitat of the Serendib Scops-owl is in the southern rain forests of Sri Lanka. There is an altitudinal range from 30 to 50 metres. This owl has no competition from other nocturnal birds, the territories are completely different. This species has a very small population, at the end of January 2006 only 80 of them were known to exist. The places that it is expected to be found are in five protected areas, like the Forest Reserve or the Proposed Reserve by Sri Lanka. They seem to be declining because of the loss of habitat and the degradation. The first two hours of darkness is when the owl hunts for its food.
This rare species inhabits the rainforests in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. Like most owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
s, it is strictly nocturnal and hunts insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s (e.g. beetles and moths) close to the ground. It begins calling at dusk, its frequency rising again some two hours before dawn.
Unlike the other two species of scops owl
Scops owl
Scops owls are Strigidae belong to the genus Otus. Approximately 45 living species are known, but new ones are frequently recognized and unknown ones are still being discovered every few years or so, especially in Indonesia...
in Sri Lanka, Collared Scops Owl
Collared Scops Owl
The Collared Scops Owl is an owl which is a resident breeder in south Asia from northern Pakistan, northern India and the Himalayas east to south China. It is partially migratory, with some birds wintering in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia...
Otus bakkamoena and Oriental Scops Owl
Oriental Scops Owl
The Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia is a species of Scops owl found in South Asia. They are found in dry deciduous forests. They are usually detected by their distinctive call. There have been 2 records of Oriental Scops Owl in Alaska....
Otus sunia, it does not have ear tufts and its facial disc is only weakly defined. The general colour of this 16.5 cm long, short-tailed owl is reddish brown with paler underparts, spotted all over with fine black markings. The irides
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
are tawny yellow (more orangish in male) and the feet are a pale fleshy colour. Tarsi are feathered for less than half their length. The claws and bill are a pale ivory colour.
Taxonomic status
In 2006 and 2007, two papers were published by Sri Lankan ornithologists in the publication Loris questioning whether the Serendib Scops Owl was a distinct species from other scops owl species found in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and if so, whether it was actually a new discovery or a re-discovery.