African Scops-Owl
African Scops-OwlAfrican Scops-OwlAfrican Scops-Owl

African Scops-Owl

Otus senegalensis

Silhouette: Armelle Ansart (photograph), Maxime Dahirel (digitisation) · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Amboseli National Park
2 Verified sightings at Amboseli National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,225 Verified sightings across all 39 parks From 2019 to 2026
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted at dawn and dusk

About the African Scops-Owl

The African scops owl (Otus senegalensis) is a small owl which is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. The African scops owl was formally described in 1837 by the English zoologist William Swainson as Otus senegalensis based on a specimen collected in Senegal. The species is now one of 58 scops owls placed in the genus Otus.

Three subspecies are recognised: O. s. senegalensis (Swainson, WJ, 1837) – widespread sub-Saharan Africa O. s. nivosus Keith, GS & Twomey, AC, 1968 – southeastern Kenya (lower Tana River to Lali Hills) O. s. feae (Salvadori, AT, 1903) – island of Annobón (Pagulu) (Gulf of Guinea)

The subspecies O. s. feae has sometimes been recognised as a separate species, the Annobón scops owl. When describing the species in 1903, the Italian ornithologist Tommaso Salvadori noted that the birds were abundant in wooded areas at altitudes of 400–500 metres on the island. Few sightings of the bird have been reported since then.

The African scops owl is a small owl, measuring 17 cm (6.7 in) in length. It is typically greyish-brown, though sometimes pale rufous or warmer brown, and is cryptically marked with streaks and mottling. Its grey facial disk... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Amboseli National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
LC

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubo lacteus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Pearl-spotted Owlet
LC

Pearl-spotted Owlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Glaucidium perlatum

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Marsh Owl
LC

Marsh Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Asio capensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Spotted Eagle-Owl
LC

Spotted Eagle-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Bubo africanus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Southern White-faced Owl
LC

Southern White-faced Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ptilopsis granti

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Common Barn-Owl
LC

Common Barn-Owl

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Tyto alba

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
2 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
3 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
4 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~20%
5 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~20%
6 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
7 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~10%
8 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
9 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
10 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
11 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
12 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
13 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
14 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
15 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
16 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
17 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
18 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
19 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
20 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
21 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
22 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
23 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
24 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
25 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
26 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
27 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
28 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
Insufficient data
29 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
30 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
31 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
32 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
33 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
34 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
35 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
36 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
37 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
38 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
39 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Insufficient data
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