Pallid scops owl

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Pallid scops owl
Pallid Scops Owl.jpg
Individual at the Little Rann of Kutch
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Otus
Species:
O. brucei
Binomial name
Otus brucei
(Hume, 1872)
Subspecies

O.b. brucei
O.b. obsoletus
O.b. semenowi
O.b. exiguus

Contents

The pallid scops owl (Otus brucei) is a small scops owl ranging from the Middle East to west and central Asia, sometimes called the striated scops owl.

Description

A field guide illustration ScopBruciiKeulemans.jpg
A field guide illustration

The pallid scops owl is a small-eared owl similar in appearance to the Eurasian scops owl but with more distinct streaks on the back and less intricate markings.

Distribution and habitat

Breeding distribution of Otus brucei Otus brucei breeding NEW distr.png
Breeding distribution of Otus brucei

The pallid scops owl ranges from the Middle East to west and central Asia, with some populations migrating as far as the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and Pakistan in the winter. It inhabits semi-open country with trees and bushes and has an estimated range of 6,190,000 km2 (2,390,000 sq mi) during the breeding season and 3,560,000 km2 (1,370,000 sq mi) in the nonbreeding season. [3]

in 2015, a new population of over 400 pairs was found in the Rift Valley, Israel and in 2016 more pairs and nests were found in Jordan (east to the Jordan River), all nesting in palm plantations. [4]

There have been many records from the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in India, and a single record of this species from paddyfields in the southern state of Kerala.

Behavior

Diet

Primarily an insectivore, the pallid scops owl's diet includes insects, lizards, spiders, and small mammals. It occasionally hunts during the day, and has been known to take bats and insects on the wing. [5]

Nesting

Otus brucei - MHNT Otus brucei MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.156.2.jpg
Otus brucei - MHNT

Breeding takes place any time between April and June, where 4 to 6 eggs are laid in a tree cavity, such as a woodpecker hole. Incubation takes approximately 27 days, and the juveniles are fledged at 30 days.

Voice

The pallid scops owl's call is a series of low, hollow, dove-like notes.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurasian scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Eurasian scops owl, also known as the European 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. It is migratory, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared scops owl</span> Species of owl

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scops owl</span> Genus of birds

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. Some are polymorphic, occurring in a greyish- and a reddish-brown morph. They are small and agile, with both sexes being compact in size and shape. Female scops owls are usually larger than males.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Indian scops owl is a species of owl native to South Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flammulated owl</span> Species of owl

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese scops owl</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Philippine scops owl is a common owl, endemic to the Philippines, belonging to the family of the typical owls Strigidae. Other common names include "Otus Whitehead", "Whitehead scops owl" and "Luzon lowland scops owl". Everett's scops owl and Negros scops owls were formerly considered conspecific but are now classified as separate species.

The Moheli scops owl is a scops owl endemic to the island of Mohéli, one of the Comoro Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African scops owl</span> Species of owl

The African scops owl is a small owl which is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seychelles scops owl</span> Species of owl

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-fronted scops owl</span> Species of owl

The white-fronted scops owl is a small Asian owl in the family Strigidae. It has a small and declining population about which little is known, and is dependent on lowland and foothill forests which are rapidly being destroyed. This species of owl is considered vulnerable and has a population of about 2,500–10,000. It is found in western Thailand and peninsular Malaysia. Its range covers 149,000 km2 (58,000 sq mi) of forest at altitudes of 0–700 m (0–2,300 ft) above sea-level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sokoke scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Sokoke scops owl is a highly localized species of scops owl found in lowland forests of Kenya and Tanzania. The greatest population of this species of owl is in the Cynometra-Manilkara forest, which is less than one-third of the Sokoke Forest. It is also found in the Afzelia-Cynometra forest.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunda scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Sunda scops owl is a small brown owl native to the Sunda Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luzon scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Luzon scops owl or the Luzon highland scops owl is a species of scops owl endemic to Luzon, Philippines. Not to be confused with the Philippine scops owl, sometimes referred to as the Luzon lowland scops owl, which is a more common species that shares the same range. The Luzon scops owl, however, is smaller and inhabits higher altitudes than its lowland relative.

The Sangihe scops owl is an owl species endemic to the Sangihe Island of Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantanani scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Mantanani scops owl, is a small owl in the scops-owl genus Otus found on small islands between Borneo and the Philippines. It is listed by the IUCN as "near threatened" because its range is limited with its population being fragmented on several different islands, and its forest habitat is being degraded by ongoing logging and clearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pemba scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Pemba scops owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to Pemba Island which is part of and off the coast of Tanzania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socotra scops owl</span> Species of owl

The Socotra scops owl is a small owl endemic to the island of Socotra, Yemen.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Otus brucei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22688631A93203300. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22688631A93203300.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. "Pallid Scops-Owl (Otus brucei) Fact Sheet". BirdLife International . Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  4. Ben Dov, A; Kiat, Y (2016). "Breeding Pallid Scops Owls in Rift Valley, Israel". Dutch Birding. 3: 146–158. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  5. Striated Scops Owl Archived 2007-05-13 at the Wayback Machine