About the Wallace's Scops Owl
Wallace's scops owl or lesser Sunda scops owl is endemic to the Sumbawa and Flores islands, in the Lesser Sundas chain of Indonesia. It is not rare in most of its habitat and has no subspecies except for the nominate. It is also known as the Lesser Sunda scops owl. It is named after Alfred Russel Wallace, a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, and biologist.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The adult Wallace's scops owl has a body length of 23 to 27 cm (9 to 101/2 in), a wingspan between 202 and 251 cm (791/2 and 99 in), and can weigh around 210 g (71/2 oz). This small bird has a characteristic owl-shaped face with long ear tufts and bright yellow eyes. It has brown plumage, a light-coloured face, grayish bill and cere, black 'herringbone' on brown to reddish vermiculations, pale breast and flanks lined with defined dark shaft streaks, and dark wavy cross-bars. Its breast is slightly darker than the sides of the bird's belly which center is white. Voice: Three main calls have been reported for this bird: The first one consists of a series of "hwomph" notes that can be repeated 9 to 18 times. This call is believed to be the bird's territorial vocalization pattern. It is a toneless call that sounds like a swishing sword.
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
Mindanao Scops OwlOtus mirusOtus mirus is a small owl, with a mean length of 19 cm and body mass of approximately 65 g.
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.
Biak Scops OwlOtus beccariiThe Biak scops owl is a species of owl endemic to the twin islands of Biak-Supiori in Cenderawasih Bay, Papua, Indonesia.
Learn the Wallace's Scops Owl for real
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