Fun Giant Scops Owl Facts For Kids
Gallery
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) is a species of scops owl in the family Strigidae. You must be wondering about the two scientific names of the species.
The giant scops owl was first described as Pseudoptynx gurneyi, which was later changed to Mimizuku gurneyi. However, after many surveys and research, the species was found to be a part of the genus and was given the scientific name Otus gurneyi.
However, many people still know the species as Mimizuku gurneyi. The species endemic to the islands of Dinagat, Mindanao, and Siargao in the Philippines is known by many names such as the lesser eagle-owl or the Mindanao eagle-owl.
The size and structure of the bird is a cross between the scops owl and the eagle-owl. All owls are part of the order Strigiformes.
The lesser eagle-owl is found in the primary and secondary forest habitats. Although the range is quite large for the species, it is affected by habitat loss quite a bit and is on the verge of losing more population in the natural wildlife. The distribution has also become scarce in recent times.
The identification of the lesser eagle-owl can be done by the pale rufous-brown facial disc, black spots on the thin rim, greenish-yellow to the grayish-white bill, long ear tufts with black spots, black streaks on the forehead, and black streaks on the crown.
For more relatable content, check out these Indian scops owl facts and Eurasian scops owl interesting facts.
Giant Scops Owl Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a giant scops owl?
Giant scops owl is a species of owl endemic to the Philippines.
What class of animal does a giant scops owl belong to?
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi) belongs to the genus Otus of the family Strigidae in the order Strigiformes. This is under the class of Aves in the kingdom of Animalia.
How many giant scops owls are there in the world?
The population of the Mindanao eagle-owl has a range between 2500-9999 and decreasing. The birds of the genus Otus are distributed across an area of 97683.8 sq mi (253,000 sq km).
Where does a giant scops owl live?
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) is endemic to the islands of Dinagat, Siargao, and Mindanao in the Philippines. This is the reason to name the bird, Mindanao eagle-owl.
What is a giant cops owl's habitat?
The lesser eagle-owl/giant scops owl range of habitat includes primary and secondary forests. The distribution includes lowland rainforest and secondary growth habitats along with small groves in grasslands. The birds are sometimes also found in logged dipterocarp forests. The birds are seen up to 4921 ft (1500 m).
Who do giant scops owls live with?
The information on the company the giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) keep is not known. Owls usually are solitary birds.
How long does a giant scops owl live?
The lifespan of the giant scops owl/Mindanao eagle-owl is not known. The Eurasian scops owl live for an age up to 12 years.
How do they reproduce?
There is not much information on the breeding techniques of the Mindanao eagle-owl. No nest of the giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) has been found to date.
However, the bird is known to be more active vocally from February to May, so it probably can be the breeding season. They might have one to three eggs in a season.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) is categorized as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss has been the main cause of concern for the giant scops owl.
Philippines habitats are degrading for the species and the distribution of the population is decreasing quite rapidly now in the region. As an example, The forest in Mindanao has reduced by 29%.
Giant Scops Owl Fun Facts
What do giant scops owls look like?
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) is a medium-sized bird with a reddish-brown facial disc and a narrow black edge in the mask. There are white streaks above the eyes.
Prominent ear tufts can be noticed. The Mindanao eagle-owl has reddish-brown upperparts and is the same color as seen on the back of the head.
The upperparts are seen with black streaks with a line of white streaks on the scapular. There are traces of the reddish-brown coloration on the underparts of the bird but is mostly whitish in color with bold black colored markings. The wings have dark brown to black feathers.
The tail and the flight feathers are banded with dark and light coloration. The female giant scops owl size is a little bigger than the male species.
How cute are they?
Owls are not usually considered cute.
How do they communicate?
Owls communicate using vocal cues.
How big is a giant scops owl?
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) has a body length of 11.02-12.6 in (28-32 cm). The wing length of the bird is up to 24 in (61 cm) and the tail length is around 4.3-5.9 in (11-15 cm). The great grey owl of Russia and North America is around 24-33 in (61-83.8 cm) long.
How fast can a giant scops owl fly?
Some species of owls are known to fly at a speed of 40 mph (64.3 kph), however, the same might not be the case for the giant scops owl. Information on the speed of these birds is not available.
How much does a giant scops owl weigh?
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) weight is not known.
What are the male and female names of the species?
The males and females of the giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) are not known.
What would you call a baby giant scops owl?
Babies are called chicks, juveniles, young, or commonly owlets.
What do they eat?
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi) feed mostly on small vertebrates and large insects. Generally, owls are known to feed on different invertebrates like insects, spiders, snails, earthworms, and crabs, fishes, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
Are they dangerous?
They are not considered dangerous.
Would they make a good pet?
They are not usually considered pets. The distribution in the subtropical and tropical moist lowland forest areas of Dinagat, Siargao, and Mindanao islands is already declining and the owls should be left alone in the habitat now, to grow and flourish.
Did you know...
The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi/Mimizuku gurneyi) is Vulnerable currently, but the alarming decline in the numbers can soon lead to endangerment of the species.
Size comparison with other scops owls
The Javan scops owls are 6.3-7.08 in (16-18 cm) long. The Anjouan scops owls have a length up to 5.9 in (15 cm).
The oriental scops owls length has a range of 6.7-8.2 in (17-20.8 cm). There are 57 other species of scops owls. And as the name suggests, the giant scops owls are one of the biggest species of owls with a length of 11.02-12.6 in (28-32 cm).
Are the collared scops owl and the giant scops owl the same species?
No, they are not the same. The collared scops owl (Otus lettia) and the giant scops owl belong to the same genus Otus, however, the former is a resident breeder in south Asia in India and Pakistan.
The Mindanao eagle-owl is only found in the Philippines. The collared scops owl is smaller too with a size of 9-9.8 in (22.8–24.8 cm).
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these tawny owl facts and short-eared owl facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable giant scops owl coloring pages.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in English
Ritwik BhuyanBachelor of Arts specializing in English
A skilled content writer, Ritwik holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Delhi University. He has refined his writing abilities through his past experience at PenVelope and his current role at Kidadl. In addition to his proficiency in writing, Ritwik has pursued his passion for flying by achieving CPL training and becoming a licensed commercial pilot. This diverse skill set highlights his commitment to exploring multiple fields. Ritwik's experience in the aviation industry has provided him with a unique perspective and attention to detail, which he brings to his writing.
Postgraduate Diploma in Management
Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management
Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
