Ryukyu Scops Owl

Japanese Name: リュウキュウコノハズク
Chinese Name: 琉球角鴞、優雅角鴞琉球亞種
English Name: Okinawa Scops Owl
Origin: Ryukyu Islands

The Okinawa Scops Owl（Otus elegans）is divided into four subspecies:

• O. e. elegans (Ryukyu Scops Owl) – Found in the Ryukyu Islands.
• O. e. interpositus – Found in the Daito Islands. It is smaller than the Okinawa Scops Owl and has a slightly different call.
• O. e. botelensis (Lanyu Scops Owl) – Found on Orchid Island (Lanyu), Taiwan.
• O. e. calayensis – Found in the Batanes and Babuyan Islands, northern Philippines.

The Okinawa Scops Owl is the most common owl in Okinawa, with a body length of about 20 cm. The main difference between this species and the Ryukyu subspecies of the Ryukyu subspecies of the Japanese scops owl (Otus semitorques pryeri) is the iris color: the Okinawa Scops Owl has yellow irises, while the Ryukyu subspecies of the Japanese scops owl has red irises. This species breeds from April to July.