The Serendib scops owl is the most recently discovered bird of Sri Lanka. It was originally located by its unfamiliar poo-ooo call in the Kitulgala rainforest by prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda. Six years later, it was finally seen by him on 23 January 2001 in Sinharaja, and formally described as a species new to science in 2004. Apart from Sinharaja and Kitulgala, it has also been found at Runakanda Reserve in Morapitiya and Eratna Gilimale. It is known as පඬුවන් බස්සා in Sinhala.
Region
Southwestern Sri Lanka
Typical Environment
Occurs in fragments of primary and mature secondary lowland rainforest with dense understory and tangled lianas. It favors shaded ravines, stream edges, and interior forest where human disturbance is low. Records are clustered in Sinharaja, Kitulgala, Runakanda, and Eratna-Gilimale. The species is highly localized and patchy, tracking intact forest cover. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the principal constraints on its range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Discovered by its distinctive poo-ooo call in Sri Lanka’s lowland rainforests, the Serendib scops owl was first seen in 2001 and described in 2004. It is Sri Lanka’s most recently described bird and is restricted to a few forest reserves such as Sinharaja, Kitulgala, Runakanda, and Eratna-Gilimale. The species is highly secretive, roosting low in dense understory and becoming active after dusk. Its Sinhala name is පඬුවන් බස්සා.
An adult
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick, agile darts through understory
Social Behavior
Typically roosts singly or in pairs low in dense foliage, relying on camouflage. Breeding likely in natural cavities or tree hollows with a small clutch, and pairs defend small territories. Activity peaks after dusk with quiet movements and infrequent exposure.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, two-note whistled call often rendered as poo-ooo, repeated at intervals, usually from a low perch. Notes carry well through dense forest and are used to mark territory and contact mates. Other vocalizations are soft and infrequent.
Plumage
Rufous-brown overall with fine dark streaking and mottling; buffy underparts with faint barring. Facial disk is pale with a darker rim; ear tufts are small and often held flat, appearing almost absent. Compact, short-tailed appearance suited to maneuvering in dense understory.
Diet
Feeds primarily on large insects such as beetles, moths, crickets, and katydids. It occasionally takes small vertebrates like geckos or frogs when available. Prey is gleaned from foliage, trunks, and the forest floor, or taken by short sallies from low perches. Hunting relies on stealth, short bursts of flight, and acute hearing.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory and lower midstory of primary rainforest, especially along stream margins and shaded trails. Often hunts from low perches a few meters above ground, moving quietly between cover.
