Rinjani Scops Owl Identified In Indonesia As New Species
Source: Associated Press
Rinjani Scops Owl Identified In Indonesia As New Species
By MARGIE MASON 02/13/13 11:22 PM ET EST AP
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Researchers looking for a nocturnal bird in Indonesia accidentally identified a new species of owl – one that has a distinct whistling song and is believed to exist nowhere else in the world.
The Rinjani Scops owl was first identified in 2003 and has since been spotted only on Lombok island, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the popular resort island of Bali. The findings were published Wednesday in the online journal PLOS ONE.
The small owl, with brown and white feathers and big golden eyes, had been confused with a similar-looking species for more than a century. But scientists from Sweden and the U.S., who were visiting the island doing separate research on another nocturnal bird, both recorded the Rinjani Scops owl's vocalizations. They noticed that its whistled note was entirely different from other songs, including that of the widespread Moluccan Scops owl, or Otus magicus.
"I am surprised that the true identity of this bird has remained hidden from the scientific world for so long," George Sangster, lead author from the Swedish Museum of Natural History, said in an email. "The Rihnjani Scops owl is quite common and can be found on various parts of the island. It is also very vocal, so it is hard to miss."
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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/rinjani-scops-whistling-owl_n_2685512.html
Alternate AP headline: Brown-and-white whistling owl ID'd as new species
