Conservation and Management

Treated as two species by BirdLife International (12 del Hoyo, J., and N. J. Collar (2014). HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ): Otus magicus (including the subspecies morotensis, leucospilus, obira, bouruensis, and albiventris) and the monotypic Otus tempestatis, which have been evaluated separately according to IUCN Red List criteria, and consequently their conservation status is discussed similarly here.

O. magicus group. Listed as Least Concern when assessed against IUCN Red List criteria, and is a CITES II protected species.

O. m. tempestatis. Also assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and a CITES II species.

Habitat Loss and Degradation

Forest destruction may plausibly be causing slow but ongoing declines in the Otus magicus group; however, the species is thought to be quite tolerant of second-growth habitats (22 Thibault, M., P. Defos du Rau, O. Pineau, and W. Pangimangen (2013). New and interesting records for the Obi archipelago (north Maluku, Indonesia), including field observations and first description of the vocalisation of Moluccan Woodcock Scolopax rochussenii. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 133(2):83–115. Close , 23 Reeve, A. H., T. Haryoko, M. K. Poulsen, P.-H. Fabre, and K. A. Jønsson (2014). New ornithological records from Buru and Seram, south Maluku, Indonesia, 1995–2012. Forktail 30:10–22. Close ).

Conservation Measures and Habitat Management

The Otus magicus group occurs in Manusela National Park, Seram (19 Bowler, J., and J. Taylor (1989). An annotated checklist of the birds of Manusela National Park - Seram (Birds recorded on the Operation Raleigh expedition). Kukila 4(1–2):3–29. Close , 28 Isherwood, I. S., J. D. A. Willis, T. R. K. Edwards, J. M. M. Ekstrom, S. Kuriake, I. R. Lubis, H. Notanubun, J. Putnarubun, J. C. Robinson-Dean, and J. A. Tobias (1997). Biological Survey and Conservation Priorities in North-east Seram, Maluku, Indonesia. Final Report of Wae Bula ’96. CSB Conservation Publications, Cambridge, UK. Close ), and Kali Batu Putih, Halmahera (29 Coates, B. J., and K. D. Bishop (1997). A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea: Sulawesi, The Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, Australia. Close ).

The O. m. tempestatis group is confined to the Timor and Wetar Endemic Bird Area (30 Stattersfield, A. J., M. J. Crosby, A. J. Long, and D. C. Wege (1998). Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series 7. BirdLife International, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Close ).