Breeding and nest-site selection of Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops) in northeast China

ABSTRACT The Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops) is a protected species whose successful reproduction is critical for the maintenance of its population. However, due to the scarcity of information on its breeding habits and nest-site selection, we conducted a study using artificial nest boxes in the Zuojia Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, China, from 2007 to 2019. The mean clutch size was 3.85 ± 0.53 (n = 35 nests), mean hatching rate was 98.84%, and mean survival rate of nestlings was 96%. A logistic equation fitting the increase in nestlings' mass showed an S-type growth curve. The key ecological factors in nest-site selection included the canopy over the nesting site, nearby shrub species, and shrub canopy density.