Oriental Scops-Owl

Smallish scops-owl with bright yellow eyes. Comes in grayish-brown and bright rufous morphs. Generally weakly marked, without any prominent features: note weak black border to the facial disc, thinly streaked underparts, and short ear tufts (often held flat). Song is a 3- to 4-note series of hollow-sounding notes, with the last two in rapid succession. Inhabits forests, gardens, and parks from lowlands up into foothills; often close to human habitation in parts of its range.

In Sri Lanka, the Oriental Scops-Owl is primarily found in the dry zone and mid-hills, inhabiting areas like open scrub forests, orchards, and even around settlements, sometimes even near city lights; unlike the endemic Serendib Scops-Owl which is restricted to the wet zone rainforests of the island.

The Oriental Scops-Owl eats a variety of insects, spiders, small rodents, and small birds. Invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, make up the majority of its diet.