The pallid scops owl is a small scops owl ranging from the Middle East to west and central Asia, sometimes called the striated scops owl.
Region
Middle East and Central Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Levant and Mesopotamia through Iran to western and central Asia, including parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It favors semi-desert and steppe landscapes wherever scattered trees or groves occur. Common habitats include riparian belts with poplar or tamarisk, oases, date-palm plantations, orchards, and large gardens. In winter it shifts locally or regionally to milder lowlands, with movements into the Arabian Peninsula and adjacent areas. Vagrants are occasionally recorded beyond the core range.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Often confused with the Eurasian scops owl, the pallid scops owl is paler and more finely streaked, and its soft, monotonous call is a key field clue at night. It favors oases, riparian groves, and date-palm plantations across arid regions. By day it roosts close to trunks where its sandy streaking provides excellent camouflage.
A field guide illustration
Breeding distribution of Otus brucei
Otus brucei - MHNT
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Typically monogamous, nesting in natural cavities, old woodpecker holes, or in palms. Clutch size is usually 3–5 eggs, and adults are secretive around the nest. Roosts by day in dense foliage or against tree trunks, relying on camouflage.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A soft, low, monosyllabic poo note repeated at steady intervals, often delivered for long periods at night. Calls are lower-pitched and more subdued than Eurasian scops owl, aiding separation in overlapping areas.
Plumage
Pale sandy-brown overall with fine dark streaking and subtle mottling; underparts are lighter with narrow vertical streaks. Small ear-tufts and a pale facial disc aid identification.
Diet
Primarily takes large nocturnal insects such as beetles, moths, crickets, and grasshoppers. It also consumes spiders and other arthropods and only occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or small rodents. Prey is typically taken by perch-hunting with short sallies to the ground or foliage.
Preferred Environment
Hunts along edges of groves, orchards, and riparian corridors, and around oases and plantations. It favors open areas adjacent to trees or palms that provide perches and cover.
