Indian Scops Owl

The Indian scops owl is a small owl, 23–25cm long, though one of the largest scops owls, with small ear tufts. Its upperparts are grey or brown, depending on the colour morph, with faint buff spotting, and its underparts are buff with fine dark streaks. The facial disc is whitish or buff, the eyes orange or brown, and there is a buff band across the neck. The sexes look alike. It is very like the collared scops owl and the oriental scops owl, and is best separated by its call and eye colour. Its flight is deeply undulating (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is nocturnal and so well camouflaged that it is very hard to see by day, though small birds that mob it at its roost may give it away. It feeds mainly on insects. Its call is a soft single whuk. It nests in tree cavities, laying three to five eggs. Its species name comes from the Sinhalese word bakamuna (Wikipedia, general species account).