Oriental Scops-Owl

Oriental Scops-Owl

A Reference for North and Central American Owls

Oriental Scops-Owl is an accidental Asian vagrant in North America. The Scops-Owls are small owls similar in appearance to the resident North American screech-owls. The Oriental Scops-Owl is about the size of our Whiskered Screech-Owl. It is found in three color forms: rufous, grayish-brown, and red-brown. The Rufous form is most frequent and the form that has been found in Alaska. Unlike our resident, non-migratory screech-owls these owls may migrate long distances. This owl has a distinctive call and appearance. Often the screech-owls in North America are very difficult, at best, to distinguish by appearance alone. This species is different enough that if it is seen it should be able to be separated visually from our indigenous screech-owls. It is, of course, very different vocally since this is the main identifying characteristic defining all owls.

Below you can find photos and information about this species, in case you find one of them in North America (maybe next time you’re on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska)

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