The Cyprus scops owl (''Otus cyprius'') is a small owl endemic to

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

Taxonomy and systematics

It is similar to the Eurasian scops owl ''Otus scops'', with which is was once considered conspecific. The Cyprus scops owl differs from Eurasian scops owl in that is has a double noted song (vs. single noted), it lacks a rufous morph (vs. has a rufous morph), and that it shows consistent plumage differences (with Cyprus scops owl appearing darker than Eurasian scops owls). There are limited mitochondrial DNA differences between the Cyprus scops owl and the Eurasian scops owl, but the taxa appear to occupy wholly discrete breeding ranges despite temporary sympatry during migration.

Distribution and habitat

The Cyprus scops owl is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the island of

. It is reported in the literature to occur in rural areas, woodlands, and forests on the island from sea level up to . Considering the highest point on the island is only at Mt. Olympus and that there are records of this species near the summit, the species distribution encompasses virtually the entire island.

Reports from the mainland

Recordings of similar-sounding owls in adjacent mainland

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

have been attributed to this species, but the current taxonomic status of these mainland populations is not known.

Behavior and ecology

Breeding

The species nests in natural cavities, in cavities in buildings, and in artificial nest boxes. In a study using nest-boxes, the highest levels of nest-box occupancy were found near forest edge and in rural areas, although the species can be found in most habitats on the island below 1900 m. The nesting habits of these species are of particular interest, as this is a cavity-nesting endemic species on an island that lacks any species of

woodpeckers Woodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. M ...

, and Calabrian pines ''Pinus brutia'' "rarely develop cavities until

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old".

Relationship to humans

This species occurs in rural areas, occasionally nesting in buildings and regularly utilizing nest-boxes provided for the species.

Status

It is a species of Least Concern.

References

Birds described in 1901 {{Strigiformes-stub