Pallid scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pallid scops owl |
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| Individual at the Little Rann of Kutch | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Otus
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| Species: |
brucei
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| Subspecies | |
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O.b. brucei |
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The pallid scops owl (scientific name: Otus brucei) is a small owl. It lives in parts of the Middle East, and across west and central Asia. Some people also call it the striated scops owl.
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About the Pallid Scops Owl
The pallid scops owl is a small owl with tiny ear tufts. It looks a bit like the Eurasian scops owl. However, the pallid scops owl has clearer stripes on its back. Its markings are also simpler.
Where Pallid Scops Owls Live
Pallid scops owls live from the Middle East to west and central Asia. Some groups of these owls travel to warmer places for winter. They might fly as far as the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and Pakistan.
These owls like open areas with trees and bushes. Their breeding area is huge, about 6.19 million square kilometers. In winter, their non-breeding area is about 3.56 million square kilometers.
In 2015, over 400 pairs of these owls were found in Israel's Rift Valley. More owls and nests were found in Jordan in 2016. All these owls were nesting in palm tree farms.
There have been many sightings in India, especially in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. One pallid scops owl was even seen in the paddy fields of Kerala, a southern state in India.
Pallid Scops Owl Behavior
What Pallid Scops Owls Eat
The pallid scops owl mainly eats insects. Its diet also includes lizards, spiders, and small mammals. Sometimes, it hunts during the day. It has even been seen catching bats and insects while flying.
Reproduction and Nesting
Pallid scops owls lay their eggs between April and June. They usually lay 4 to 6 eggs in a hole in a tree. These holes are often old woodpecker nests.
The eggs hatch after about 27 days. The young owls are ready to fly from the nest when they are about 30 days old.
The Owl's Voice
The pallid scops owl makes a call that sounds like a series of low, hollow notes. It can sound a bit like a dove.
