Indian scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian scops owl |
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| In Maharashtra | |
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Otus
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| Species: |
bakkamoena
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The Indian scops owl (Otus bakkamoena) is a type of owl that lives in South Asia. It's known for being small but mighty!
What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this owl is Otus bakkamoena. The word "bakkamoena" comes from "bakamuna." This is a name in the Sinhalese language. It's used for other owls like the white barn owl and the brown fish owl.
How to Spot an Indian Scops Owl
The Indian scops owl is a small bird, usually about 23 to 25 centimeters (about 9 to 10 inches) tall. Even though it's small, it's one of the bigger kinds of scops owls.
Like other scops owls, it has little tufts of feathers on its head. These look a bit like ears! Its back and top feathers can be grey or brown. This depends on the owl's natural color variation. It also has light, faint spots. The feathers on its belly are a light yellowish-brown color. They have thin, darker stripes.
The owl's face is whitish or yellowish-brown. Its eyes can be orange or brown. You might also see a yellowish-brown band of feathers around its neck. Male and female Indian scops owls look very much alike. When they fly, they move up and down in a wavy pattern.
This owl looks a lot like two other owls: the collared scops owl and the oriental scops owl. But you can tell them apart by their calls and the color of their eyes.
Where They Live
You can find the Indian scops owl in many places. They live from eastern Arabia all the way across the Indian Subcontinent. However, you won't find them in the very northern parts of these regions.
Owl Life
The Indian scops owl is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active mostly at night. During the day, it's very hard to see. This is because its natural camouflage helps it blend in perfectly with trees. Sometimes, smaller birds might find it sleeping in a tree. They will make a lot of noise to "mob" it.
These owls mainly eat insects. Their call is a soft, single sound that sounds like "whuk?". When it's time to have babies, the Indian scops owl builds its nest in holes in trees. A mother owl usually lays 3 to 5 eggs.
Images for kids
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In Maharashtra
