Editing Japanese scops owl (section)

== Behavior and ecology ==

=== Hunting and feeding ===
Japanese scops-owls feed primarily on [[invertebrate]]s (insects, millipedes, centipedes, crustaceans) then followed by small [[rodent]]s (voles and mice).<ref name=":2" /> They can also feed on small [[bird]]s, [[frog]]s, [[lizard]]s, [[snake]]s and [[fish]]. They are active predators meaning they mostly search for prey while flying. Still, they sometimes perch to hunt.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=Liang |first1=Hongchun |last2=Li |first2=Ning |last3=Chen |first3=Zhaorong |date=November 2016 |title=The Prey Tactics by Two Owl Species in the Forest of Northeastern China |url=http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.25225/fozo.v65.i3.a5.2016 |journal=Folia Zoologica |language=en |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=208–213 |doi=10.25225/fozo.v65.i3.a5.2016 |issn=0139-7893|url-access=subscription }}</ref> When consuming rodents, they most often go for juveniles as it is easier to find sedentary prey such as juveniles in a nest. They hunt in open areas and rely on auditory cues to detect prey and prey nests.<ref name=":6" /> Their eyes are adapted to [[Nocturnality|nocturnal]] living which explains why they hunt at night.<ref name=":5" />

=== Breeding ===
Japanese scops-owls are solitary until [[breeding season]]. They are a [[Monogamy in animals|monogamous]] species, and they form pairs which they keep through the breeding season. Males lure females with their vocalization to a nest they have prepared. The males often will reuse the old nests of other birds. The females choose their partner based on their nest building skills and how much food is in the nest. Japanese scops-owl nest from March to July. They nest mostly in tree cavities or [[nest box]]es.<ref name=":2" /> They lay their eggs in March.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Toyama |first1=M. |last2=Kotaka |first2=N. |last3=Koizumi |first3=I. |date=November 2015 |title=Breeding timing and nest predation rate of sympatric scops owls with different dietary niche breadth |url=https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjz-2015-0060 |journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology |volume=93 |issue=11 |pages=841–847 |doi=10.1139/cjz-2015-0060 |issn=0008-4301|hdl=1807/69904 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> The female [[Egg incubation|incubates]] the eggs for 3 to 4 weeks during which the male will bring her food. [[Fledge|Fledgling]] occurs in May and June.<ref name=":7" /> The owlets are born naked with a few [[down feather]]s, and they can fly at 4 to 6 weeks. Females lay one clutch of 2 to 5 eggs per season except if the eggs are destroyed. On average, 1 to 3 eggs will hatch.<ref name=":7" /> The main [[Predation|predators]] of this species are [[snake]]s and they attack their eggs. Japanese scops-owls compete with [[Ryūkyū scops owl|Ryukyu scops-owls]] (''Otus elegans)'' for nests since nests that are higher in elevation receive less snake predation.<ref name=":7" /> Japanese scops-owls have a lifespan of 12 years.

=== Vocalization ===
Japanese scops-owls have varied vocalizations including screeches, meows, hoots and chatters. They screech mostly to deter predators. Males usually give repeated deep {{Not a typo|"whook"}} at different intervals. Some of their other calls are described as {{Not a typo|"kwe"}} or {{Not a typo|"koo"}} notes. They also repeat {{Not a typo|"kwee-kwee"}} and {{Not a typo|"pew-u, pew-u"}} sounds.<ref name=":2" />