[3][1] The scops owls of Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles form a clade within the genus Otus with the Oriental scops owl (Otus sunia) and are not closely related to the continental African scops owls.

The facial disk is also brownish with a contrasting darker rim restricted to just the sides and not seen above the eyes.

[5] The call of the Mayotte scops owl is a series of 3–11 deep, single hoots.

[3] The habitat of the Mayotte scops owl is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

[5] The population of the Mayotte scops owl is thought to be stable as there is no evidence for any decline or of any substantial threats, thus it is categorised as least concern.