Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-fronted Scops Owl
Otus sagittatus
White-fronted Scops Owl (Otus sagittatus) — Owls of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-fronted Scops Owl (Otus sagittatus) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 123 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Otus
- Species sagittatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 123 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-fronted 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 White-fronted Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-fronted Scops Owl (Otus sagittatus) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Malay Pen.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 123 g, with a wing length of about 17.8 cm and a tail of around 11.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 148,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-fronted Scops Owl?
The White-fronted Scops Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 123 g.
Where does the White-fronted Scops Owl live?
The White-fronted Scops Owl is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Malay Pen, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-fronted Scops Owl belong to?
The White-fronted Scops Owl (Otus sagittatus) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the White-fronted Scops Owl eat?
The White-fronted Scops Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-fronted Scops Owl migrate?
The White-fronted Scops Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-fronted Scops Owl endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the White-fronted Scops Owl make?
1 real field recording of the White-fronted 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 White-fronted Scops Owl's range?
The White-fronted Scops Owl has a mapped global range of about 148,000 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
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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.