Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Vocal Array

The vocalizations of this species fall into two distinct groups that are increasingly recognized as separate species (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 , 4 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2016). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 13 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ):

Otus magicus (all subspecies except tempestatis). A single, rough "croak" (sometimes said to be raven and Corvus-like) or a harsh or rasping "kwok" (26 Ripley, S. D. (1959). Birds from Djailolo, Halmahera. Postilla 41:1–8. Close ) repeated every few seconds, e.g., at 5‒7-second intervals on Obi (subspecies obira), where calls last 0.33–0.5 seconds and reach 0.6–1.2 kHz, similar to, but apparently occupying a narrower frequency range than birds on Buru (bouruensis), Flores (albiventris), and Halmahera (leucospilus) (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 ). There is reportedly also some individual variation with some birds (often speculated to be females) higher pitched than others. In flight, or when excited (e.g., in response to playback) these taxa can produce a series of similar notes in quick succession (4 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2016). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 13 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). On Obi, for example, one bird gave a series of kwook notes slightly longer and deeper than the usual call which was repeated at shorter intervals (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 ).

O. m. tempestatis. A series of 2–7 gruff "wah" notes at an approximate rate of six notes every five seconds, sometimes even faster (4 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2016). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 13 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ), often in duets (27 Trainor, C. R., Imanuddin, F. Aldy, P. Verbelen, and J. S. Walker (2009). The birds of Wetar, Banda Sea: one of Indonesia’s forgotten islands. BirdingASIA 12:78–93. Close ).

Note that Otus manadensis kalidupae sounds identical to the Otus magicus group (15 O’Connell, D. P. O., D. J. Kelly, S. B. A. Kelly, K. Analuddin, A. Karya, N. M. Marples, F. E. Rheindt, and T. E. Martin (2020). An assessment of the avifauna of the Wakatobi Islands, south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia: species recorded and taxonomic considerations. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68:574–587. Close ) and may be better transferred to the present species (see Systematics History).

No nonvocal sounds for the species have been reported.