The Oriental Scops Owl – 10,000 Birds

The Oriental Scops Owl – 10,000 Birds

The Oriental Scops Owl is presumably my favourite of all chook species (although I’ll have mentioned that about different species as properly) – so, here is a put up with just a few images of this owl taken this autumn migration season.

The extremely beneficial photographic information “Owls of the world” describes it as a “very small owl with seen ear-tufts” (although not truly on this primary photograph).

The title “scops” apparently is from the Latin “scops”, which in flip is from the Greek “scops” (not very artistic, admittedly), that means “a kind of small owl”. Based on “The Chicken Identify Ebook A Historical past of English Chicken Names”, the unique greek phrase is skopós“watcher, guardian, spy,” with the creator Susan Myers stating that this “appears acceptable for these ever-alert however secretive birds.”

Based on this guide, scops (?) owls actually have a cameo look in Homer’s Odyssee: “A thick wooden of alder, poplar, and candy smelling cypress bushes, whereby every kind of nice birds had constructed their nests—owls [skópes], hawks, and chattering sea-crows that occupy their enterprise within the waters.” Presumably not Oriental Scops Owls although, except there’s a Trojan subspecies …

Whereas there are 55 species of scops owls, the Oriental Scops Owl is by far probably the most generally seen in Shanghai, primarily throughout migration.

It is available in two morphs – one greyish, one reddish. Relying on the bark shade of the bushes the owls conceal in, normally one morph is simpler to identify than the opposite – although each morphs generally appear to make themselves invisible at will.

Being grey clearly is helpful subsequent to a greyish tree.

Fittingly, the Helm “Owls of the World” information states that “Throughout daytime roosts singly, or generally in small events, in dense foliage, towards a tree trunk or in holes; if detected, stretches vertically, with plumage sleeked, ear-tufts erected and eyes virtually closed. Then virtually invisible towards environment.”

Right here, a crimson morph appears to considerably misjudge its environment, making it pretty seen.

Right here, the match is healthier.

This one right here can be excellent at being invisible.

One other unusual side – already talked about additional up – is that these owls virtually appear to have the ability to change their form – from a spherical egg form to a really extended branch-like form. Camouflage at its greatest.

Egg-shaped:

Department-shaped:

Some actual property suggestions for Oriental Scops Owls: Based on a Korean research, woodpecker nest holes don’t make very fascinating residences – the speed of nesting failures is comparatively excessive. Pure tree holes are considerably higher however synthetic nest bins are greatest. Although after all, younger owls rising up in such a man-made atmosphere could later turn into snobbish and elitist.

Extra good recommendation for Oriental Scops Owls: steer clear of Japanese researchers, as they might wish to scan your tongue with an digital microscope.

In fact, the ear tufts usually are not actually ears. However they appear cool.

As an added bonus, they make the owl look much more cat-like than another owl species.

To finish this put up, some extra images. You recognize you need them.