Sunda scops owl
The Sunda scops owl ("Otus lempiji") is a small brown owl native to the Sunda Islands. Taxonomy. The taxon is considered a subspecies of "Otus bakkamoena" by some authors. Description. It grows from 20 to 25 cm and can weigh 100 to 170 grams. It is speckled with black on the upper parts and streaked with black on the lower parts. It has a light collar and dark eyes, which differentiate it from the reddish scops, mountain scops, Oriental scops and Rajah scops owls. Distribution and habitat. It lives on the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra and  Java. It can be found primarily in forests and gardens but is occasionally attracted to buildings. Diet. The diet of the Sunda Scops Owl mainly consists of insects, as well as small animals such as geckos and lizards. Conservation. It has been included in the IUCN Red List of threatened species as a least concern species. It is common throughout its range where there is suitable habitat. Behaviour. Breeding. The Sunda scops owl lines its nest with plant fibre. It will lay up to three eggs in a tree hollow from January to April and their breeding season can sometimes  be extended to June or late July. The Sundra Scops Owl tend to behave aggressively when threaten by other owls by displaying territorial behavior. A female Sundra Scops Owl will react aggressively when feeling threaten by responding vocally to warn intruders from interfering and keeping them at a distance. Voice. Its call is a hooting yelp in between a longer period of silence. The Sunda Scops owls use their callings to mark their territory and have evolved to have voice individuality to improve their territory proclamation. Every owl has its own unique vocal characteristics such as varying frequencies at which  they produce their callings/noises which gives them each a unique voice. Having a unique voice/calling makes it easier for an owl to stand out from its competitors and mark its territory more effectively.