Number 260 in the record of birds of Dongsha Atoll National Park, the Oriental Scops Owl (Otus sunia), made its presence in March during a bird population survey of the Marine National Park Headquarters (MNPH) commissioned to the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society (KWBS).

The MNPH said that, up to 2011, 257 species of birds have been discovered in the Dongsha Atoll National Park. Two new birds, the Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans), have also been documented in January 2013. The discovery of the Oriental Scops Owl in March brought the record to 260 species. On an atoll smaller than 5-100 thousandth of the area of Taiwan lives 50% of all birds discovered in the nation. We can say that this is an oasis of bird diversity.

The KWBS pointed out that Oriental Scops Owl can only be seen during the migration seasons in spring and autumn. The birds rest in Northern China, Siberia, and Japan for reproduction during spring and fly to the warmer regions (lower latitudes) of Southern China, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia for the winter. The period from March to May, spring in Taiwan, is the peak season when the birds migrate north. They are usually found active in the coastal areas or low-lying woods during their transit in Taiwan. This rare transit bird has been listed as a Class 2 protected wildlife species in Taiwan.

The Oriental Scops Owl is considered a small bird (15 to 18cm), with colors ranging from grey to brown. A similar species, the Mountain Scops Owl, is characterized by yellow-white beak (Oriental Scops Owl is black) and the Collared Scops Owl has red irises (the Oriental Scops Owl’s are yellow). Records of the atoll documented only two species of larger and more common owls, the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) and Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus). The Oriental Scops Owl is a smaller bird with a body length of approximately 17cm. Discovery of the Oriental Scops Owl adds a third species to the records of Dongsha Atoll