Typical Owls (Strigidae)
Nicobar Scops-owl (Otus alius) - HBW 5, p. 168
French: Petit-duc de Nicobar
German: Nicobareneule
Spanish: Autillo de Nicobar
Taxonomy: Otus alius Rasmussen, 1998, Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar.
Probably forms superspecies with O. umbra and O. enganensis. Original specimen collected in 1966 initially listed as race (nicobaricus = modestus) of O. sunia, though long wings unlike all forms of that species; second specimen collected in 1977, and the two suspected of belonging to an undescribed taxon, tentatively placed with an “expanded” O. magicus. Subsequently treated as race nicobaricus (= modestus) of O. sunia, or as a form of O. magicus without subspecific allocation, but in one case listed as “Otus .. View all taxonomy...
Probably forms superspecies with O. umbra and O. enganensis. Original specimen collected in 1966 initially listed as race (nicobaricus = modestus) of O. sunia, though long wings unlike all forms of that species; second specimen collected in 1977, and the two suspected of belonging to an undescribed taxon, tentatively placed with an “expanded” O. magicus. Subsequently treated as race nicobaricus (= modestus) of O. sunia, or as a form of O. magicus without subspecific allocation, but in one case listed as “Otus sp.”. Recent examination of both specimens, along with comparisons with all other Otus taxa of non-mainland SE Asia (N to Philippines), led to conclusion that they were sufficiently distinct in plumage and morphology to warrant recognition as separate species. Monotypic.
Distribution: Great Nicobar I, southernmost of Nicobar Is.
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