The Collared Scops Owl, Otus bakkamoena[2], is an owl which is a reside nt
breeder in south Asia from eastern Arabia through India, except the far
north, and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. This species is a part of the
larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains
most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.
The Collared Scops Owl is a common resident bird in forests and other
well-wooded areas. It nests in a hole in a tree, laying 3-5 eggs.
The Collared Scops Owl is a small (23-25cm) owl, although it is the
largest of the scops owls. Like other scops owls, it has small head
tufts, or ears. The upperparts are grey or brown, depending on the
morph, with faint buff spotting. The underparts are buff with fine
darker streaking.
The facial disc is whitish or buff, and the eyes are orange or brown.
There is a buff neckband. Sexes are similar. The flight is deeply
undulating.
This species is nocturnal. Through its natural camouflage, it is very
difficult to see in daytime. But it can often be located by the small
birds that mob it while it is roosting in a tree. It feeds mainly on
insects. The call is a soft single note ("whuk?").
This species is very similar to the slightly larger partially
migratory Indian Scops Owl Otus lettia and the Oriental Scops Owl Otus
sunia. They can be separated on call and eye colour. |
