Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus Otus and are restricted to the Old World. Otus is the largest genus of owls with 59 species. Scops owls are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and/or face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees.

Even smaller even than the Little Owl, it is one of the few European owls that leaves its breeding grounds and migrates south during the winter. Visual Identification. The Eurasian Scops-owl is a small owl with prominent ear-tufts and large yellow eyes. Its plumage is mottled grey or brown, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark.

The Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops), also known as the European scops owl, common scops owl or just scops owl, is a small owl in the typical owl family Strigidae. Its breeding range extends from southern Europe eastwards to southern Siberia and the western Himalayas.

Smallish scops-owl with bright yellow eyes. Comes in grayish-brown and bright rufous morphs. Generally weakly marked, without any prominent features: note weak black border to the facial disc, thinly streaked underparts, and short ear tufts (often held flat).

Scops owls can hear very well, which helps them find animals to eat. They also have strong claws and a curved bill, both of which help them tear prey into small pieces that they can eat. Most scops owls live alone, lay and sit on their eggs in a nest in a hole in a tree. They do not dig the holes themselves.

Oct 4, 2020 · The Eurasian Scops Owl is a small scops owl with cryptic plumage, relatively long wings, a short tail, and small erectile ear-tufts. It is also known as the Common Scops Owl. Photo Gallery (7 pictures)

Aug 14, 2023 · Of the many owl species that grace our planet, the Scops Owl stands out, not for its size but for its petite stature and distinctive features. Dive into the fascinating world of the Scops Owl, a nocturnal bird that, despite its modest size, holds its own in the vast avian kingdom.

Medium-sized owl with significant variation in plumage and vocalizations across its large range. Either gray or brown in coloration, with prominent pale ear tufts and pale face outlined in black. Fond of open wooded habitats from lowlands to foothills, often found roosting in temples, houses, and gardens, particularly in rural areas.

Scops owl, any Old World owl of the genus Otus, differentiated from the New World species, which are called screech owls. See screech

Medium-sized scops-owl with prominent ear tufts and dark eyes. Coloration variable, ranging from gray to brown, but dark eyes, thin black border around the facial disc, and lightly streaked underparts remain constant. Gives bouncy amphibian-like barks at changing intervals.