Scops owl
| Scops owls | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eurasian scops owls, Otus scops | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Otus Pennant, 1769 |
| Type species | |
| Otus bakkamoena Pennant, 1769 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Scops Savigny, 1809 | |
Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus Otus and are restricted to the Old World. Otus is the largest genus of owls with 59 species. Scops owls are coloured in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees. Some are polymorphic, occurring in a greyish- and a reddish-brown morph. They are compact in size and shape. Female scops owls are usually larger than males.