• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is known from forest habitats above 900 m on Mindoro and hence has a restricted range. Declines are suspected owing to the ongoing clearance of forest habitats, but the species is not restricted to a few locations and its population is not regarded as severely fragmented, thus the species is classified as Near Threatened.

Population justification
The species is said to be very local by Allen (2020), but König and Weick (2008) note that locally calling individuals (presumably males) may be spaced by no more than 150 m. The latter is somewhat supported by eBird (2023) data, which suggests that on Mt. Halcon (which comprises a significant part of the species' range) transects of 1 km typically detected multiple individuals. If the description by König and Weick (2008) is representative, a density of up to 90 mature individuals/km² is possible, although is likely to represent the maximum possible density. In total, c.700 km² of forested habitat remains in its range, and suspecting a density of 45-90 mature individuals/km², and an occupancy of 50-70%, the population size is estimated at 15,750-44,000 mature individuals. It is recognised, however, that these figures are based on poor data, and a refinement of this estimate is urgently sought.

Trend justification
The only identified threat for this species is forest loss. Although rates are currently thought to be slow, this species is considered to be dependent on closed-canopy forest (König and Weick 2008, Allen 2020). Remote sensing data indicate that c.3% of forest cover was lost in this species' range between 2012 and 2022 (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein), which is thought to have had an equivalent impact on the population, placed here at an ongoing rate of 1–9% over ten years. Rates, and the impact, of degradation are unknown, but may be causing additive declines.

Otus mindorensis is endemic to Mindoro in the Philippines.

It occurs in closed-canopy montane forest above 900 m (Allen 2020). It has been recorded recently in patches of highly fragmented secondary forest within this elevation band.

The only identified threat for this species is forest loss, which appears to be occurring slowly, principally as a consequence of shifting agriculture and agricultural expansion. The current rate of loss is slow (<5% over ten years; per Global Forest Watch 2023), but should continue to be monitored.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It occurs in Mt Iglit-Baco National Park.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Compare population densities in fragmented and secondary forest with primary forest and determine the likely remaining population size. Continue to monitor rates of forest loss using remote sensing data. Protect remaining tracts of forest on Mindoro for the benefit of this and a number of other threatened species.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Bird, J. & Taylor, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mindoro Scops-owl Otus mindorensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mindoro-scops-owl-otus-mindorensis on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.