A very small owl with irregular markings, protruding ear hair. There are no gender size differences for data. There are two morphologies, and the population becomes bright reddish-brown from north to south. Grey-brown morphology: the upper part is grayish brown with black freckles and spots, the outer mesh of the shoulder blades is white, arranged across the shoulders; the flight and tail feathers are light and dark. The pale abdomen is covered with black, and the breasts are deeper than the abdomen. There is a distinct dark fold around the dough. The eyes are yellow and the mouth is gray-horned. The tarsal bone of the heavy feathers has a narrow bare area above the light gray-brown toes with dark horn-like claws. The reddish-brown form is usually more reddish-brown. Teenager unknown.
Calling a series of deep, nasal, grunting whoanks, kwoank notes are usually emitted every 5-6 seconds. Food and hunting are mainly based on insects and other arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates. Hunt on the edge of forests and in clearings. The habitat inhabits wooded areas and forests, and there are also coconut groves and casuarina plantations.
It is found and distributed on Mantanani Island off the northwest coast of Borneo and on some islands in the southwestern Philippines. It is common in the local area but suffers from deforestation. Little research has been done, including its classification and vocalization.
The geographic variant lists four subspecies: the nominated mantananensis found on the islands of Rasa and Ursula off the coasts of Mantanani (off Borneo) and S. Palawan; romblonis, from Romblon, Banton, Tablas, Sibuyan, Tres Reyes, and Semirara, in the WC Philippines, with large markings below Cuyensis is produced in Cuyo and Calamian in the western Philippines, which is larger in size and has distinct black stripes; sibutuensis is produced in Sibutu and Tumindao in the Sulu Islands in southwestern Philippines, usually dark brown, with irregular, soft markings, and a lighter color on the shoulder blades. In these subspecies, the number of reddish-brown color increases from south to north.
Similar species of Philippine lowland scops owls and Palawan scops owls do not appear on the same small island where this owl lives, and are darker in color, with long ear clumps and pronounced hind neck collars.