Oriental Scops Owl
Oriental Scops OwlOriental Scops OwlOriental Scops OwlOriental Scops Owl

Oriental Scops Owl

Otus sunia

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

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Sinharaja Forest Reserve
1 Verified sightings at Sinharaja Forest Reserve From 2019 to 2026
1,528 Verified sightings across all 26 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

About the Oriental Scops Owl

The oriental scops owl (Otus sunia) is a scops owl species native to South and Southeast Asia. The oriental scops owl is a small, variably plumaged, yellow-eyed owl with ear-tufts which are not always erect. It can be distinguished from the collared scops owl by its whitish scapular stripe, well-marked underparts, and lack of pale collar. There are two colour morphs, grey and rufous; intermediate forms also occur. Sexes are similar in appearance. Individuals may freeze with eyes half-closed when disturbed. The species has a repeated liquid call sounding like "tuk tok torok". Adults have higher-pitched calls than juveniles.

The oriental scops owl has an extremely wide distribution across eastern and southern Asia and inhabits dry deciduous forests from Russia to Thailand. The owl nests in holes in trees, especially Mahua trees, during February to April. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Serendib Scops Owl
EN Endemic

Serendib Scops Owl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Otus thilohoffmanni

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Indian Scops-Owl
LC

Indian Scops-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Otus bakkamoena

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Chestnut-backed Owlet
NT Endemic

Chestnut-backed Owlet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Glaucidium castanotum

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl

Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ketupa nipalensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brown Boobook
LC

Brown Boobook

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ninox scutulata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brown Fish-Owl
LC

Brown Fish-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ketupa zeylonensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brown Wood Owl
LC

Brown Wood Owl

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Strix leptogrammica

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Jungle Owlet
LC

Jungle Owlet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Glaucidium radiatum

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Sri Lanka Bay-Owl
LC

Sri Lanka Bay-Owl

Bird

Phodilus assimilis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
2 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
3 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
4 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
5 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
6 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
7 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
8 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
9 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
10 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
11 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
12 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
13 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
14 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
15 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
16 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
<5%
17 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
18 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
19 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
20 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
21 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
22 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
Insufficient data
23 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
24 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
25 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
Insufficient data
26 Sinharaja Forest Reserve 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
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