Identification

A small scops-owl that is extremely variable (generally considered to be polymorphic), but always has medium-sized ear-tufts and vivid yellow eyes.

This species is the only scops-owl throughout most of its range. In Nusa Tengarra (the Lesser Sundas), it overlaps with Wallace's Scops-Owl (Otus silvicola), but the latter is much larger, and has darker, buffier underparts (especially the belly and flanks), although the voice is the simplest and most reliable character for identification. The Moluccan Scops-Owl differs from all forms of the Sulawesi Scops-Owl (Otus manadensis) in being larger with more barred tertials and tail, and produces a different song (see Vocalizations).