Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sokoke Scops Owl
Otus ireneae
Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae) — Owls of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 50.3 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 ireneae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sokoke 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 Sokoke Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF se Kenya and ne Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.3 g, with a wing length of about 11.3 cm and a tail of around 5.6 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 635 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sokoke Scops Owl?
The Sokoke Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.3 g.
Where does the Sokoke Scops Owl live?
The Sokoke Scops Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF se Kenya and ne Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Sokoke Scops Owl belong to?
The Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Sokoke Scops Owl eat?
The Sokoke Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sokoke Scops Owl migrate?
The Sokoke Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sokoke 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 Sokoke Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Sokoke 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 Sokoke Scops Owl's range?
The Sokoke Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 635 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.