Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia)

Collared Scops Owl

[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Otus lettia | [authority] Hodgson, 1836 | [UK] Collared Scops Owl | [FR] Petit-duc indien | [DE] Halsbandeule | [ES] Autillo Chino | [NL] Gekraagde Dwergooruil

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

Members of the genus Otus are the Scops and Screech owls. They are relatively small owls, with short, rounded wings. Most have erectile ear-tufts. Otus is a worldwide genus, containing some 45 species.

Physical charateristics

The Collared Scops Owl is a small (23-25 cm) 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 subspecies, 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

Listen to the sound of Collared Scops Owl

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Collared Scops Owl.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 23 cm size max.: 25 cm
incubation min.: 0 days incubation max.: 0 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 0 days
broods: 0   eggs min.: 0  
      eggs max.: 0  

Range

Oriental Region : West Himalayas through South China, North Indochina and Taiwan. The Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) is an owl which is a resident breeder in south Asia from northern Pakistan, northern India and the Himalayas east to south China

Habitat

The Collared Scops Owl is a common breeding bird in forests and other well-wooded areas

Reproduction

Nest is a hole in a tree usually 2-5 meter above ground. Clutch size is 3-5 eggs which are reported to be incubated by both parents.

Feeding habits

Primarily insects, but also small vertebrateslike birds and lizzards or rodents.

Video Collared Scops Owl

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDu73EwrKRE

copyright: Martin Kennewell


Conservation

Common in its range.
This species is chiefly found in northern India and is replaced by the very similar looking Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia (recently split) towards the south of its range. It is very similar also to the slightly smaller Indian Scops Owl, O. bakkamoena. They are most easily separated in the field by their calls.
Collared Scops Owl status Least Concern

Migration

It is partially migratory, with some birds wintering in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Distribution map

Collared Scops Owl distribution range map

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