Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia Scientific name definitions

23–25 cm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); 108–170 g (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Occurs in grey-brown and rufous morphs. Facial disc greyish to light rufous, with buff eyebrows and inner webs of ear tufts, latter rather small but conspicuous when raised; upperside grey-brown or rufous-brown, dark-mottled and with few whitish spots, and pale collar on back of neck; chin and throat pale, barred or mottled with black, breast pale greyish-buff or rufous with black streaks; tarsus feathered; irides dark brown to orange-brown ; bill greenish-horn, darker at tip (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); lower mandible pale dusky yellow; toes and claws fleshy-grey to dusky-olive (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Differs from similar O. semitorques in eye colour and voice. Juvenile more barred. Races not very well marked: <em>erythrocampe</em> generally less grey, more brown and buff, with dark yellow to golden-brown eyes; <em>glabripes</em> paler, umbratilis darker.

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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.

Sal (Shorea robusta), deciduous and evergreen forest, secondary growth, also open scrub near cultivation, open areas with stands of trees and bamboo, and gardens in towns and villages; open mixed forest with moderate understorey in E Russia. Considered primarily a submontane species in E Himalayas, where occurs up to 2400 m (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but elsewhere in range equally frequent from lowland plains to at least 2200 m.

Generally resident, with some local movement from higher-lying areas to lower elevations in winter.

Mainly insects (especially beetles and grasshoppers); diet also includes moderate proportion of vertebrates, such as rodents, bats, small birds, lizards and frogs (3 Leadprathom K., Chimchome V. and Bumrungsri S. (2009). Nesting ecology of the Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia in Thailand. Ardea. 97(4): 457–461. Close ). In NE of range, breeding-season concentrations of these owls in areas with rodent plagues indicate that small mammals taken locally in large numbers.

Male gives single mellow “buuo”  , inflected downwards, repeated at longish intervals of 12–20 seconds; female similar but higher-pitched, more mewing; courtship duets can continue for 15 minutes or longer. Also chattering series in alarm.

Feb–Apr/May; some evidence that breeding season may be longer; in Thailand Jan–Apr (3 Leadprathom K., Chimchome V. and Bumrungsri S. (2009). Nesting ecology of the Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia in Thailand. Ardea. 97(4): 457–461. Close ). Nest a natural hollow or woodpecker hole 2–5 m from ground, sometimes higher, in either living tree trunk or, perhaps more commonly, a snag. Usually 3–5 eggs; report that both parents may share in incubation duties requires confirmation. In a study in Thailand clutch size 1–4 (63% of nests had 3); eggs 33·65 mm × 28·85 mm; incubation period 22–29 days (n = 3), nestling period 18–26 days (n = 6); hatching success 60%, fledging success 65%, and a total of 30 chicks fledged from 12 nests (3 Leadprathom K., Chimchome V. and Bumrungsri S. (2009). Nesting ecology of the Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia in Thailand. Ardea. 97(4): 457–461. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. No global population estimate, but species described as very common in parts of range, e.g. Thailand and Myanmar, and locally frequent in E Himalayas. Mean of 2·65 individuals/km² detected during call broadcast surveys at Bala rainforest, S Thailand (4 Kemp, A., Kemp, M. and Thong-Aree, S. (2009). Surveys of nocturnal birds at Bala rainforest, southern Thailand. Forktail. 25: 117–124. Close ). Does not shun human presence, and appears able to live in association with agricultural development, so long as some trees available; by no means uncommon in suburban areas, and also tolerates more urbanized habitats in places. No obvious threats are known, and populations are presumed to be stable.