The species occurs in and adjacent to humid evergreen forest from sea level to 2,000 m (Morris and Hawkins 1998, ZICOMA 1999), but has also been recorded in an area dominated by dry deciduous forest (van Esbroeck 2006, Cardiff and Goodman 2008). It hunts at night in somewhat open areas in or near primary forest, perching in trees at the forest edge. Although formerly believed to occur only in undisturbed rainforest (Langrand 1990), it has been recorded in degraded/secondary forest-edge vegetation and also hunts over open, human-altered habitat adjacent to forest, including rice-paddies and slash-and-burn cultivation (Thorstrom and Réné de Roland 1997, Thorstrom et al. 1997), and it may require both forest and open areas (and so may be absent from large areas of forest interior [S. Mitchell in litt. 2009]). In Masoala, it ranged over 210 ha (Thorstrom et al. 1997). Its diet is predominantly small native mammals, in contrast to T. alba which feeds mostly on introduced rat Rattus spp. (Goodman and Thorstrom 1998) outside primary forest. Tsingy tufted-tailed rats Eliurus antsingy constituted almost 50% of total prey mass of individuals in dry forest at Ankarana (northern Madagascar), and the species here also consumed insects, frogs and geckos (Cardiff and Goodman 2008). The first nest recorded by scientists was found in September 1995, 23 m above ground, in a natural tree-cavity in an isolated native tree Weinmannia, 500 m from the edge of the main forest block; clutch-size was probably two (two young successfully fledged) (Thorstrom and Réné de Roland 1997). It has also been recorded roosting on rock ledges and in cave entrances (van Esbroeck 2006, Cardiff and Goodman 2008). The species may have been overlooked previously for three reasons: a) it is reclusive and strictly nocturnal; b) it is mistaken for T. alba; and c) it occurs patchily and at low densities (Irwin and Samonds 2002, R. Thorstrom and L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2007).

Tyto soumagnei occurs in the eastern rainforest of Madagascar, where it was formerly known from between Amber Mountain in the far north to Mantadia National Park in the centre-east, before a further site (Kalambatritra) was located 500 km further south of its previously known range (Irwin and Samonds 2002). More recently, the species was found in the extreme south-east of Madagascar, in the lowlands of Tsitongambarika, extending its presumed range considerably (R. Safford in litt. 2007, R. Thorstrom and L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2007). It is probably present in all suitably large blocks of humid evergreen forest in the east and north of Madagascar, but its nocturnal habits make it difficult to detect. Future surveys may reveal it to be less rare than currently thought (Morris and Hawkins 1998, ZICOMA 1999), and it has been found to be relatively common at Bemanevika New Protected Area at 1,500-1,650 m (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2012), with a population of approximately 30 individuals in the area (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2023).

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. Several sites where it has been recorded are protected areas - Mantadia National Park, Marotandrano Special Reserve, Masoala National Park, Montagne d'Ambre National Park, Tsaratanana Strict Reserve and Zahamena National Park - where it probably occurs at low density (ZICOMA 1999). Four individuals are being radio-tracked and monitored at Bemanevika New Protected Area (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Establish presence or absence at rainforest sites to the south of Mantadia, especially in Midongy-South, Ranomafana, Andringitra and Andohahela national parks. Determine its habitat requirements for breeding and foraging, to clarify its population size. Increase the area of suitable habitat that has protected status.