The Sunda scops owl is a small brown owl native to the Sunda Islands.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Found across Sundaland, including the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and Bali, as well as Brunei. It occupies primary and secondary lowland forests, forest edges, mangroves, and swamp forests. The species readily uses human-modified habitats such as parks, gardens, and plantations where tree cover remains. It roosts in dense foliage by day and hunts from low to mid-level perches at night.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The Sunda scops owl is a small, ear-tufted owl superbly camouflaged by its mottled brown or rufous plumage. It is common in lowland forests and often adapts to gardens and plantations, where it hunts insects around lights. Its repetitive, hollow hoots carry at night and are a familiar sound across the Sundaic region. It nests in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with silent glides
Social Behavior
Usually roosts singly or in pairs, becoming active at dusk. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding season and nest in tree cavities lined minimally with debris. Both adults participate in feeding the chicks, delivering insects and small prey at night.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of hollow, mellow hoots, often rendered as repeated 'pu-uk' notes at regular intervals. Calls accelerate during territorial exchanges and courtship, with soft trills and whistles added. Vocal activity peaks at dusk and pre-dawn.
Plumage
Compact owl with fine mottling and streaking; brown or rufous morphs with pale underparts marked by dark streaks. Feathers are cryptic, aiding excellent camouflage against bark.
Diet
Primarily hunts large insects such as moths, beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. It also takes spiders and occasionally small vertebrates like geckos or small frogs. Prey is detected by sound and sight from a perch and captured by short sallies or pounces.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, clearings, and tree-lined paths. Frequently hunts near artificial lights in villages and plantations where insects gather.
