Page 247 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

OWLS
Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae Species Otus scops
Scops Owl angular corners of
head sometimes
raised as ear tufts

barred broad pale grey “V”
wings between eyes
narrow head
with flat top
yellow eye, dark edging on
ringed black facial disc
greyish or rufous- dark streaks
brown body on pale
underside

complex
patterning
seen only at
close range
IN FLIGHT

FLIGHT: short, quick flights, only faintly undulating,
with bursts of fast wingbeats.
n Mediterranean villages and woodlands in summer, the dawn and
Idusk calling of the Scops Owl is commonplace.Tracking one down
by carefully approaching the sound is sometimes difficult but usually
just a matter of time; with patience it may be possible to see one really
well if it perches close to a streetlight. Daytime views are much more
difficult to get: it is practically impossible to track one down to a visible
roost. Little Owls are often found in nearby areas, so identification
requires some care: Little Owls are resident but in most areas Scops Owls
are found in summer; Scops Owls are more often seen on roofs and church
towers in the middle of villages, while Little Owls tend to be on the edges of
villages or around farm outbuildings and isolated barns; Little Owls look more
rounded or squat, with a broad, flatter head, while a Scops Owl is more tapered
towards the wingtips and tail.They are only very rare vagrants (usually in spring)
north of their regular breeding range.
VOICE Distinctive at dusk: single, fluty, indrawn musical whistle, pew or tyuh
repeated unvaryingly every 2–3 seconds.
NESTING Cavity in tree, wall, or building; 4 or 5 eggs; 1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Mostly drops down from perch to take large insects.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES In summer, found widely in
S Europe and north to C France
flatter head TENGMALM’S OWL black eye and Alps. In small towns, parks,
different habitat;
stockier see p.241 and wooded areas, often around
older buildings and churchyards,
rounder
head much but also in mixed woodland. Most
larger migrate in winter, only some
staying in S Europe.
LITTLE OWL TAWNY OWL Seen in the UK
see p.244 see p.239 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 19–21cm (7 1 ⁄2 –8 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 47–54cm (18 1 ⁄2 –21 1 ⁄2in) Weight 150g (5oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Declining†
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