Pallid Scops-Owl Otus brucei Scientific name definitions

18–21 cm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); wingspan 54–64 cm (2 Mikkola, H. (2014). Owls of the World. A Photographic Guide. 2nd edition. Firefly Books, Buffalo, NY, USA. Close ); 100–110 g (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Pale scops-owl with distinct fine streaking and short ear tufts . Facial disc pale buffish-white, with thin dark border and short whitish eyebrows; upperparts light greyish-brown with yellowish tinge, with sparse and fine black streaks, broader on crown and forehead, nape with light ochre patch, scapulars with blackish-edged white feathers; flight-feathers and tail thinly barred; below, paler and more heavily streaked with black, especially on centre of breast; tarsus fully feathered to base of toes; irides pale yellow; bill greyish-horn, yellowish at base of lower mandible; toes greyish-brown; claws blackish-brown (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Distinguished from all races of O. scops by paler appearance, plainer upperparts, lack of rufous coloration , absence of transverse patterning below. Juvenile paler, narrowly barred creamy and grey, shorter ear tufts. Races differ mainly in plumage coloration, but much overlap: <em>semenowi</em> similar to nominate, but deeper ochre-yellow, streaks sometimes broader; <em>obsoletus</em> more sandy-buff, streaks narrower but sharp; exiguus greyer, streaks below weaker, more diffuse.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

In winter from E Tajikistan S to E & S Pakistan and W India.

---

SUBSPECIES

Otus brucei brucei Scientific name definitions

Distribution

E Aral Sea to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

---

SUBSPECIES

Otus brucei obsoletus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

S Turkey, N Syria, N Iraq, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and N Afghanistan.

---

SUBSPECIES

Otus brucei semenowi Scientific name definitions

Distribution

S Tajikistan and W China (E to C Tarim Basin) S to E Afghanistan and N Pakistan.

---

SUBSPECIES

Otus brucei exiguus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Israel (3 Ben Dov, A. and Kiat, Y. (2016). Breeding Pallid Scops Owls in Rift Valley, Israel, in spring 2015. Dutch Birding. 38(3): 146–158. Close ), C and E Iraq, S Iran, Oman, S Afghanistan, W Pakistan.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Semi-open areas with trees and bushes, including cultivation, palm groves, orchards, riverine woodland; also parks, large gardens in towns; generally in more arid areas than O. scops. In Pakistan, in semi-desert and stony foothills, rocky gorges and similar arid habitats; in Oman, inhabits deep wadis below steep rocky slopes, with scattered Elb trees (Ziziphus spina-cristi) and acacias (4 Robb, M. and van den Berg, A.B. (2014). Phenology of Pallid Scops Owl vocalisations in Oman. Phoenix. 30: 21-23. Close ). On migration and in winter, also in acacias in desert. Mostly lowlands, but to at least 1500 m in Pakistan (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and exceptionally to 4340 m in N India (5 Pfister, O. (2001). Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India from 1994 to 1997. Forktail. 17: 81–90. Close ); tends to avoid mountains in WC Asia.

Resident and migratory . Apparently resident in Iran, and thought primarily resident in Pakistan. Extent of movements uncertain in some areas, e.g. possibly only summer visitor in Turkey ; probably partial migrant in Iraq, normally encountered Mar–Oct only. Migratory in NE of range, arriving late Mar or Apr and leaving Sept/Oct; recorded in China Apr–Oct. Scarce migrant and winter visitor in S Israel ; uncommon winter resident in India, where present from mid-Oct through Mar in Gujarat (6 Sangha, H.S. and Malik, D. (2010). Observations on wintering Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei at Zainabad, Little Rann of Kachchh, Surendranagar district, Gujarat. Indian Birds. 5(6): 176-177. Close ) and where recently documented as far south as Kerala (7 Chandran, A., Rasmussen, P. C., Jahan, S., and Praveen J. (2016). The Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei in south-western India, with notes on its identification. Indian Birds. 12(2–3): 56-63. Close ).

Insects, such as beetles, moths, locusts and mole-crickets (Gryllotalpidae), and spiders; also small mammals (rodents, shrews, bats), birds (especially small passerines), lizards; prey choice probably dependent on availability. Hunts from perch, dropping down to take prey from branch or ground; also pursues and catches aerial prey, such as moths and bats, on the wing (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Sometimes forages in morning or afternoon.

Male territorial call a long series of low, hollow “whoop” or “whoo”  notes, similar to those of Stock Dove (Columba oenas), at rate of 5–8 per 5 seconds; also short barking calls. In Oman, vocal activity reduced on windy nights; birds were vocal in late Mar, Apr and especially May, but silent in Jul (4 Robb, M. and van den Berg, A.B. (2014). Phenology of Pallid Scops Owl vocalisations in Oman. Phoenix. 30: 21-23. Close ).

Pairing begins on arrival in N parts of range, usually Mar; lays Apr–May in most of range, to Jun in Uzbekistan. Very vocal during breeding season. Nest 3–6·5 m above ground in hollow tree, particularly poplar (Populus), willow (Salix) or mulberry (Morus), in old woodpecker hole, or in cavity in bank, wall, cliff or building; also in nestbox; often uses Magpie (Pica pica) nests locally, e.g. in Uzbekistan. Clutch size 4–6 eggs; egg size c. 29 mm × 26 mm to 31·7 mm × 28·1 mm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); incubation 26–28 days; hatching asynchronous, chick with white down; fledging period 28–30 days. In Uzbekistan, from 18 eggs in 4 nests, 6 young fledged.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Status not well known; no information on global population size or population trends. Common in Iraq; scarce in Pakistan. Recorded densities in NE of range low, e.g. from 2 pairs/2·5 km² to 10–12 pairs/400 km². Only known breeding records in Israel, in May 1911 and June 2015 (3 Ben Dov, A. and Kiat, Y. (2016). Breeding Pallid Scops Owls in Rift Valley, Israel, in spring 2015. Dutch Birding. 38(3): 146–158. Close ). May be reasonably common in much of range, but few data. No known threats.