Otus lettia
The Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) is a small, cryptically plumaged owl, a true master of disguise in the dense forests of Asia. Measuring 23-25 cm (9.1-9.8 in) in length with a wingspan of approximately 50-60 cm and weighing 100-150g (3.5-5.3 oz), its greyish-brown plumage is intricately streaked and mottled, perfectly blending with tree bark. Key field marks include prominent ear tufts that can be raised or lowered, a faint pale nuchal (nape) collar, and piercing yellow eyes set within a ...
This owl primarily inhabits lowland and foothill evergreen, deciduous, and mixed forests, as well as open woodlands, cultivated areas with scattered trees, parks, and gardens. It typically occurs from sea level up to around 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in mountainous regions.
Their diet consists mainly of large insects such as moths, beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, supplemented by spiders, scorpions, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards, geckos, small birds, and rodents. Foraging primarily involves a 'perch-and-pounce' method.
The Collared Scops Owl is strictly nocturnal and crepuscular, emerging at dusk to hunt and retiring to dense foliage or tree cavities to roost during the day, where its cryptic plumage provides exceptional camouflage. Its primary foraging strategy is the classic 'perch-and-pounce,' where it waits...
The Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) boasts a wide distribution across South, Southeast, and parts of East Asia. Its breeding range extends from the western Himalayas (Himachal Pradesh, India) eastward through Nepal, Bhutan, and northeastern India, into Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambod...
Least Concern
- The Collared Scops Owl is a master of camouflage, able to blend seamlessly with tree bark by compressing its feathers and raising its ear tufts, making it almost invisible during the day. - Despite their name, the prominent 'ear tufts' are not related to hearing; they are feather extensions bel...