Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Andaman Scops Owl
Otus balli
Andaman Scops Owl (Otus balli) — Owls of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Andaman Scops Owl (Otus balli) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 67.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Otus
- Species balli
Quick facts
- Weight
- 67.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Andaman Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Andaman Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Andaman Scops Owl (Otus balli) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Andaman Is.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 67.5 g, with a wing length of about 13.7 cm and a tail of around 7.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5,825 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Andaman Scops Owl?
The Andaman Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 67.5 g.
Where does the Andaman Scops Owl live?
The Andaman Scops Owl is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Andaman Is, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Andaman Scops Owl belong to?
The Andaman Scops Owl (Otus balli) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Andaman Scops Owl eat?
The Andaman Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Andaman Scops Owl migrate?
The Andaman Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Andaman Scops Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Andaman Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Andaman Scops Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Andaman Scops Owl's range?
The Andaman Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 5,825 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.