The Indian scops owl (Otus bakkamoena) is a resident species of owl found in the southern regions of Asia
Distribution and habitat The species occurs from eastern Arabia through the Indian Subcontinent, except the far north, east across much of Southeast Asia to Indonesia. It is a common resident bird in forests and other well-wooded areas.
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.netis one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there
Taxonomy and etymology This species formerly included theCollared Scops Owl(Otus lettia) (Otus lettia). The species epithet is derived from "bakamuna", the Sinhalese name for the white barn owl (Tyto alba), and the brown fish owl (Ketupa zeylonensis).
Description The Indian scops owl is a small (23–25 cm) owl, although it is one of the largest of the scops owls. Like other scops owls, it has small head tufts, or ears. The upperparts are grey or brown, depending on the morph, with faint buff spotting. The underparts are buff with fine darker streaking. The facial disc is whitish or buff, and the eyes are orange or brown. There is a buff neckband. Sexes are similar. The flight is deeply undulating.
This species is very similar to the slightly larger partially migratory Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) and the Oriental Scops Owl (Otus sunia). They can be separated on call and eye colour.
Ecology The Indian scops owl is nocturnal. Through its natural camouflage, it is very difficult to see in daytime, but may sometimes be located by the small birds that mob it while it is roosting in a tree. It feeds mainly on insects. The call is a soft single note ("whuk?"). It nests in tree holes, laying 3–5 eggs.
Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use)
7th of January 2016 Location: Gir National Park
Among others I have used Peter Ericsson's web pageBirds of ThailandThese galleries contain 668 species of the Birds of Thailand and have been of a great help to identify some of the birds as the birds in Thailand and India are, well, many of them are the same.
I have had most help from my friend, the bird pal I met at Suan Rot Fai. Sending pictures of birds I have not been able to identify to him via Line. 3 minutes later he and he have managed to identify most of the birds I have had problems with. THANKS! Visit his web pagem☥leverfor his beautiful pictures.
PLEASE! As I'm a first time birdwatcher bear in mind that some of the bird can be wrongly named. I have bought book and I confirm on the internet to get the right identity on the birds I take pictures off. But there can still be mistakes.
Indian Scops Owl - 7 January 2016 - Gir National Park, India
Indian Scops Owl - 29 January 2016 - Kanha National Park, India
Indian Scops Owl - 29 January 2016 - Kanha National Park, India
Indian Scops Owl - 1 February 2016 - Kanha National Park, India
Indian Scops Owl - 1 February 2016 - Kanha National Park, India
Indian Scops Owl - 1 February 2016 - Kanha National Park, India
PLEASE! If I have made any mistakes identifying any bird, PLEASE let me know on my guestbook
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