Mountain Scops Owl

Overview

The mountain scops owl (Otus spilocephalus), also known as the spotted scops owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. Its range extends across much of south and southeast Asia, from Pakistan and the Himalayas in the northwest, through Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia in the east and south.

Identification

• The nominate subspecies of the eastern Himalayas has a distinct more russet plumage.
• It has a short high-pitched call like a two-note whistle, described as "plew-plew" or "he-he".
• Calls differ between geographic populations, and the female's songs are rarely heard.

Habitat

The species is found across much of south and southeast Asia, including Pakistan, the Himalayas, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia. It is an altitudinal migrant.