Photo: Peter Wächtershäuser/naturlichter.de at de.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Serendib Scops Owl
Otus thilohoffmanni
Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) — Owls of South & Southeast Asia.
The Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 76.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Otus
- Species thilohoffmanni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 76.5 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 Serendib Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Serendib Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Sri Lanka.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 76.5 g, with a wing length of about 12.5 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 237 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Serendib Scops Owl?
The Serendib Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 76.5 g.
Where does the Serendib Scops Owl live?
The Serendib Scops Owl is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Sri Lanka, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Serendib Scops Owl belong to?
The Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Serendib Scops Owl eat?
The Serendib Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Serendib Scops Owl migrate?
The Serendib Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Serendib Scops Owl endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Serendib Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Serendib 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 Serendib Scops Owl's range?
The Serendib Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 237 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Strigidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Owls
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
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.