Madagascar
November 2016

The Madagascar Scops-owl is endemic to Madagascar. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

Most authorities split this species into Rainforest Scops-owl O. rutilus in the eastern highlands (photo 1) and Torotoroka Scops-owl O. madagascariensis (photo 2) in the south and west of the island. The Rainforest Scops-owl has a shorter tail and bare rear tarsi as well as vocal difference. HBW says that "plumage differences small, voices intergrading and genetic distance slight". These two recordings are from the northern and southern extremities of the island.