Oriental Scops Owl

The Oriental scops owl is a small, yellow-eyed owl of very variable plumage, with ear tufts that are not always raised. It comes in grey and rufous morphs, with intermediate birds, and the sexes look alike. It is told from the collared scops owl by its whitish shoulder stripe, well-marked underparts and lack of a pale collar. When disturbed it may freeze with its eyes half closed (Wikipedia, general species account).

It has a very wide range across eastern and southern Asia and lives in dry deciduous forest from Russia to Thailand. Its call is a repeated, liquid tuk tok torok, higher-pitched in adults than in juveniles. It nests in tree holes, especially in mahua trees, from February to April (Wikipedia, general species account).