Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This recently split scops-owl is restricted to a single tiny island on which it is estimated to have a tiny population numbering fewer than 250 mature individuals, and is inferred to be in on-going decline owing to habitat loss and alteration. It has therefore been classified as Critically Endangered.
Population justification
Nocturnal surveys in 2008-2009 along 12 transects covering much of the island found a mean density of 0.32 calling owls/ha in the majority of the area occupied (348 ha), with a lower density of 0.13 calling owls/ha on 108 ha of the drier northern slopes, and a higher density of 0.66 owls/ha in 112 ha of core habitat around the southern Santa Mina Massiff and the upper Angañ river (Rodriguez-Prieto et al. 2014). The resulting population estimate based on these densities was of 198 calling owls. It is thought very likely that the calls recorded correspond to both males and females, thus the total population is estimated at c.200 mature individuals in a single subpopulation (Rodriguez-Prieto et al. 2014), placed here in the band 50-249 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population is thought to currently be relatively secure, as subsistence farming plots away from residential areas tend to be very small and dispersed, and most timber extraction takes place in dry forests. Nevertheless limited declines may be taking place, and are projected to increase in line with planned infrastructure developments, in particular if a proposed road is built through the core of the range.
Otus feae is restricted to the small (17.5 km²) island of Annobón, Equatorial Guinea (König and Weick 2008). It was reported to be abundant in dense forest at 400-500 m by Fea in 1902, but was not recorded after the mid-20th century (Harrison 1990, Jones and Tye 2006) (apart from some calls heard in 2002) until nocturnal surveys were carried out in 2008-2009 along 12 transects covering much of the island (Rodriguez-Prieto et al. 2014). These found the species to occupy an area of 5.7 km2 across the uplands of central and southern Annobón, roughly matching the distribution of the moist and cloud forests, while grasslands, savanna and dry tropical forest were thought to be avoided by the species. Further surveys of the island in June 2014 and October 2016 have also located the species (Sloan 2017, I. Rodríguez-Prieto in litt. 2016), with the visit in 2014 additionally finding one pair singing in the dry forest zone outside of the main distribution area of the species (I. Rodríguez-Prieto in litt. 2016).
It favours closed, humid forest, usually avoiding the dry and open forests and savanna/parkland habitats favoured by O. senegalensis (Rodriguez-Prieto et al. 2014).
Changes to natural habitats have been reported to be much less extensive on Annobón than on São Tomé and Príncipe (Harrison 1990), perhaps influenced by the relatively stable human population (Jones and Tye 2006). The species appears to be a closed forest specialist and therefore likely shows little tolerance for habitat degradation and introduced tree species; however, the entire human population lives in the only town, in the north of the island, with three additional seasonally occupied villages, and the lack of roads and permanent settlements have helped preserve habitat in the core of the range. Subsistence farming takes place throughout the island, but plots away from residential areas tend to be very small and dispersed. Most timber extraction takes place in the dry forests, which are avoided by O. feae.
However, the Equatorial Guinea government has launched a program of infrastructure development, including a new airport with capacity for international flights, a new port, and a road from Palé to the crater lake (Rodriguez-Prieto et al. 2014). There are further plans to build a road connecting Palé with the seasonal villages; this road has so far reached midway between Palé and Angañ, but it is being delayed due to technical problems. There are apparently enough funds to continue the road to Angañ, but further extension is dependent on new funding. The favoured route to the other two villages would cut through the centre of the range of O. feae, directly affecting areas of high density. If the road goes no further than its current extent, it will likely have minimal impact on the species; if it reaches Angañ only, limited declines are projected; but if the full plans are completed widespread habitat degradation is likely and significant declines would be projected (Rodriguez-Prieto et al. 2014). As of July 2016, these construction works were still on hold (I. Rodríguez-Prieto in litt. 2016).
Conservation and research actions underway
Genetic sequencing has been carried out on nuclear and mitochondrial samples, which showed no difference from Otus senegalensis (M. Melo in litt. 2014).
Conservation and research actions proposed
Clarify the taxonomic status. Carry out repeat surveys to confirm the population size, and carry out additional research on the ecology and behaviour of the species, including researching its requirements for food resources and nest sites. Closely monitor planned road developments. Consider advocating the creation of a protected area based on humid forest within the core of the range, developing an environmental education programme on the island, and encouraging locally-organised ecotourism if the new airport leads to an increase in international tourism.
Text account compilers
Symes, A., Taylor, J. & Westrip, J.
Contributors
Melo, M. & Rodríguez-Prieto, I
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Annobon Scops-owl Otus feae. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/annobon-scops-owl-otus-feae on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.