A neighbourhood Ryukyu Scops Owl that is completely habituated to people.

The pattern on this individual was so different from the Ryukyu Scops Owls I normally see that I tried whistling an imitation of the call to get a response, but there was none. I find myself wondering whether it is a Ryukyu Scops Owl, a mainland Eurasian Scops Owl, or perhaps some other subspecies.

Addendum, 25 January

Sharing information kindly provided by Mr. Haneya. Apparently the number of spots on the outer web of the primaries differs between Eurasian Scops Owl and Ryukyu Scops Owl. Checking the feather identification guide (Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan), it is indeed the case that Ryukyu Scops Owl has the spots more densely arranged than Eurasian Scops Owl. This individual therefore appears to be one of the unusual variations within Ryukyu Scops Owl.

When I worked through some spots I don't usually cover on night walks, the density of Ryukyu Scops Owls was surprisingly high. I should add these to my night-walk route.

While searching for Eurasian Woodcock I found a Brown Hawk-Owl waiting for prey on the ground. I tried calling to check whether it was a Ryukyu Brown Hawk-Owl or a Brown Hawk-Owl, but got no response, so the subspecies remains unknown.