Mountain Scops-Owl
Otus spilocephalus
Also known as: Spotted Scops Owl
About This Species
A small, cryptically plumaged owl of montane forest across South and Southeast Asia, far more often heard than seen. Listen at dusk and after dark for its short, steady, whistled call, repeated at intervals from dense cover. Calling activity peaks in the spring breeding season, making that the best time to locate one by ear.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Covered by national wildlife protection laws in its range countries.
- As with owls generally, limit the use of playback and spotlighting to the minimum needed for a brief view, since repeated calling back or prolonged lighting can disrupt territorial behaviour and roosting; keep well back from any daytime roost site.
LCAvesStrigiformesStrigidae
Seasonal Activity
368,030 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
Photo
(c) Soham Dixit, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Soham Dixit
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.