Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Socotra Scops Owl
Otus socotranus
Socotra Scops Owl (Otus socotranus) — Owls of Africa.
The Socotra Scops Owl (Otus socotranus) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 67 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 socotranus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 67 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Socotra Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Socotra Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Socotra Scops Owl (Otus socotranus) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Socotra.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 67 g, with a wing length of about 12.7 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3,622 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Socotra Scops Owl?
The Socotra Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 67 g.
Where does the Socotra Scops Owl live?
The Socotra Scops Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF Socotra, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Socotra Scops Owl belong to?
The Socotra Scops Owl (Otus socotranus) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Socotra Scops Owl eat?
The Socotra Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Socotra Scops Owl migrate?
The Socotra Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Socotra 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 Socotra Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Socotra Scops Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Socotra Scops Owl's range?
The Socotra Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 3,622 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.