Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species occupies a small range, and is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing loss of its forest habitat. However, this is not yet severely fragmented, and the species is not restricted to few locations. For these reasons, the species is classified as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The global population size has not been formally quantified, but the species is described as fairly common in woodland and plantations throughout its range (Eaton at al. 2021).
Trend justification
The only identified threat to this species is habitat loss and degradation. In the ten years to 2022, forest cover in the species' range declined by c.5% (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). This is thought to be broadly equivalent to the rate of population reduction; although this species is tolerant of forest degradation, much of the forest loss on Taliabu in recent years has amounted to total habitat clearance. Accounting for uncertainty, the population is thought to have reduced by 1-9% over the past ten years and this same rate is suspected to occur in the future.
Otus sulaensis is endemic to the Sula Islands, including Taliabu, Seho, Mangole and Sanana, Indonesia (König and Weick 2008), where it is described as fairly common (Eaton et al. 2021).
It inhabits primary forest, disturbed, selectively-logged and heavily degraded forest, plantations and swamps with trees and bushes, from sea-level to 1,300 m, but mostly in the lowlands (König and Weick 2008, Rheindt et al. 2014, Eaton et al. 2021).
Ongoing habitat clearance through agricultural expansion and logging represent the main threats to this species. In the 10 years to 2022, forest cover in the species' range declined by c.5% (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). The majority of this forest loss has occurred in the lowlands of Taliabu. Following a visit in 2009, Rheindt (2010) speculated that all lowland primary forest could have been lost from Taliabu due to the widespread activities of logging companies, with some areas converted to plantations, cultivation and gardens and further conversion to agriculture expected. In addition, forest fires have severely reduced and degraded montane forest on Taliabu (Rheindt 2010).
Conservation Actions Underway
Listed in CITES Appendix II although international trade is not a threat to this species. Occurs within Taliabu Nature Reserve, but this covers only a very small percentage of suitable habitat in this species' range (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to assess the total population size. Study the species' ecology and population structure. Monitor land-use change in the species' range. Protect areas of suitable habitat.
Text account compilers
Haskell, L.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Symes, A. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sula Scops-owl Otus sulaensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sula-scops-owl-otus-sulaensis 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.