Eurasian Scops-Owl
Otus scops
Very small owl with golden-yellow eyes. Cryptic and well-camouflaged, with streaky gray-brown plumage that blends in perfectly with tree bark. Small ear tufts raised when alert. Much more easily detected at night, when monotonously repeated and well-carrying song, a single plaintive hoot, is given. Found in a variety of open woodlands, scrubby areas, orchards, and parks.
Identification
The Eurasian scops owl is 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in) in length with a wingspan of 47–54 cm (19–21 in). This is somewhat smaller than the little owl (Athene noctua). It perches upright and shows small ear-tufts. The plumage is predominantly grey-brown in colour, with a paler face, underparts and shoulder line. This species has a strong direct flight on long narrow wings, reflecting its migratory habits.<p>The call is a deep whistle given by both sexes. It is similar to the call of midwife toads in the genus Alytes.
Taxonomy
The Eurasian scops owl was formally described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. Linnaeus cited the 1599 description by the Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi, placed it with all the other owls in the genus Strix and coined the binomial name Strix scops. The Eurasian scops owl is now placed in the genus Otus that was introduced in 1769 by Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant. The genus name is derived from the Latin otus meaning "eared owl". The specific epithet scops is from the Ancient Greek word skōps for a little eared owl. The term is believed to be of Pre-Greek origin; folk etymology links it to σκώπτω (skṓptō, "to mock") or σκέπτομαι (sképtomai, "to examine").<p>Five subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Otus scops
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
This bird breeds in southern Europe eastwards into western and central Asia. It is migratory, wintering in southernmost Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. It was spotted in Newtown area near Kolkata for a brief period during October 2021. It was the first sighting in eastern India. It is rare any distance north of its breeding range, usually occurring as a spring overshoot. It is unlikely that this nocturnal owl would be found outside the breeding season when it is not calling.
- Breeding range
- PAL : w, c
- Non-breeding range
- AF
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Meadow Bunting
Emberiza cioides
Handsome large bunting with a distinctive face pattern consisting of a dark brown ear patch (black in Japan) and mustache combined with a light eyebrow and throat. Male also has a gray collar and rusty-tinged upperparts and sides. Female has a weaker, paler head pattern, a partial collar, and tan underparts. Common in open areas with a range of different vegetation cover, including forest edges, farmlands, and meadows. The only bunting in its range to give multiple call notes in a series instead of isolated chips.
Masked Saltator
Saltator cinctus
Rare and beautiful bird of high Andean cloud forest, at least in some places found especially in bamboo. Very distinctive with black breast band, face, and throat, mostly red bill, yellow eye, and white tail tips. Sexes look alike. Generally found alone or in pairs at lower to middle levels in the forest, and may occasionally join mixed-species flocks. Song is a soft, repeated “chu-chu-chu-chu-whit?”; also gives sharp, metallic squeaks.
Rusty-margined Flycatcher
Myiozetetes cayanensis
One of several medium-sized, kiskadee-like flycatchers that are bright yellow below, with bold black-and-white head pattern. Rusty-margined is one of the smaller ones, with a smaller bill than Great Kiskadee. Most similar to Social and White-ringed Flycatchers; look for combination of black cheek (not gray) and especially obvious rufous in the wings. Shorter bill than White-ringed. Voice is helpful: listen for lazy-sounding, slightly burry “wheeer” call. Found in a variety of open wooded habitats such as forest edge and second growth, often around water.
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