Scops Owl

Otus scops

Introduction

Common across southern Europe, Scops Owl is a rare but regular visitor to Britain & Ireland.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

90g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

278 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

West Yorkshire, 1805

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

Open Close

Scops Owl is a very rare vagrant, sporadically recorded in spring and autumn.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Scops Owl movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Scops Owl, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Scops Owl

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Scientific name: Otus scops
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: IQ
BTO 5-letter code: SCOOW
Euring code number: 7390

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: xot eurasiàtic
Czech: výrecek malý
Danish: Dværghornugle
Dutch: Dwergooruil
Estonian: salupäll
Finnish: kyläpöllönen
French: Petit-duc scops

German: Zwergohreule
Hungarian: füleskuvik
Icelandic: Skopugla
Irish: Ulchabhán Scopach
Italian: Assiolo
Latvian: maza pucite
Lithuanian: paprastasis apuokelis
Norwegian: Dverghornugle

Polish: syczek (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: mocho-d'orelhas
Slovak: výrik lesný
Slovenian: veliki skovik
Spanish: Autillo europeo
Swedish: dvärguv
Welsh: Tylluan Sgops

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species