About the Sao Tome Scops Owl
The São Tomé scops owl is a species of owl in the true owl family, Strigidae. It is endemic to São Tomé Island, part of São Tomé and Príncipe, in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The São Tomé scops owl is a small, secretive owl with small ear-tufts. It has a light reddish-brown facial disc with a white chin and white eyebrows. The crown and upper-parts are chestnut with rufous wavy markings and black shaft streaks. Their scapulars have white spots and black tips. The flight feathers are buff with white mottling and narrow. There are buff bars on the tail. The underparts are rufous with fine vermiculations of brown and white and bold black streaking. Juveniles are paler. It is a small owl, about 18 cm (7.1 in) long, weighing about 79 g (2.8 oz). Voice: The São Tomé scops owl's voice is a high-pitched 'hu-hu-hu', and also a low-pitched, raucous 'kwow'. It differs from the African scops owl (Otus senegalensis) and the flute sounds of the Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in August · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Negros Scops OwlOtus nigrorumThe Negros scops owl, also known as the Visayan scops owl, is an owl, endemic to the islands of Negros and Panay in the Philippines, belonging to the family of the typical owls Strigidae.
Learn the Sao Tome Scops Owl for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.