Giant Scops Owl (Otus gurneyi)
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Giant Scops Owl

Otus gurneyi (Tweeddale, 1879)

30 cmLength370 gWeight

The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi), lesser eagle owl, Mindanao eagle owl or Mindanao owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae.

Busiest months: February–March · Most records: Philippines

Near Threatened

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: February–March · Most records: Philippines

Giant Scops Owl has been recorded at 14 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park – Del Monte LodgePhilippines147 records
  2. Eden Nature Park and Resort, Toril, Davao CityPhilippines108 records
  3. Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park – Mid-level TrailsPhilippines56 records
More places
  1. Bislig lowlands – PICOP Road 42Philippines54 records
  2. Bislig lowlands – PICOP Road 4Philippines50 records
  3. Lake HolonPhilippines47 records
  4. Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park – SumilaoPhilippines44 records
  5. Bislig lowlands – 321 Quarry TrailPhilippines30 records
  6. Mt. Tagubud, New BataanPhilippines23 records
  7. Pasonanca Natural Park, Zamboanga City – BalunoPhilippines12 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Philippines

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The giant scops owl (Otus gurneyi), lesser eagle owl, Mindanao eagle owl or Mindanao owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines, found on Mindanao, the Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Samar. In size and structure, it is considered intermediate between a scops owl and an eagle-owl.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Giant Scops Owl?

The Giant Scops Owl is about 30 cm long and weighs around 370 g.

Where does the Giant Scops Owl live?

Its breeding range: Oriental: Samar, Dinagat, Siargao and Mindanao (Philippines). It is most often recorded in Philippines.

When is the best time to see the Giant Scops Owl?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in February and March (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Giant Scops Owl endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Giant Scops Owl as Near Threatened.

What does the Giant Scops Owl eat?

Main food: Vertebrate prey.

What family is the Giant Scops Owl in?

It belongs to the family Owls (Strigidae), order Strigiformes.

At a glance

Length
30 cm
Weight
370 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Vertebrate prey
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Near Threatened
More measurements
Wing
240 mm
Tail
114 mm
Bill
34 mm
Tarsus
47 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Oriental: Samar, Dinagat, Siargao and Mindanao (Philippines)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Owls Strigidae
Genus
Otus

Other birds in the genus Otus

White-fronted Scops OwlWhite-fronted Scops OwlOtus sagittatusReddish Scops OwlReddish Scops OwlOtus rufescensSerendib Scops OwlSerendib Scops OwlOtus thilohoffmanniSandy Scops OwlSandy Scops OwlOtus icterorhynchusSokoke Scops OwlSokoke Scops OwlOtus ireneaeAndaman Scops OwlAndaman Scops OwlOtus balliFlores Scops OwlFlores Scops OwlOtus alfrediMountain Scops OwlMountain Scops OwlOtus spilocephalusJavan Scops OwlJavan Scops OwlOtus angelinaeMindanao Scops OwlMindanao Scops OwlOtus mirusLuzon Scops OwlLuzon Scops OwlOtus longicornisMindoro Scops OwlMindoro Scops OwlOtus mindorensis
Giant Scops Owl

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by (c) Andrei Von Tirona, all rights reserved. ↗

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