Southern White Faced Scops Owl

Southern White Faced Owl

Southern White Faced Scops Owl

Did You Know?

When in danger, they can appear shrivelled to camouflage themselves as a tree trunk

All about Southern White Faced Scops Owl

Order:
Strigiformes
Family:
Strigidae
Group:
Ptilopsis
Lifespan:
Up to 30 years in captivity
Gestation:
Eggs incubate in 30 days
Habitat:
Savannah, dry open woods and forest edges
Diet:
Large insects, spiders, scorpions, small birds, reptiles and small mammals
Conservation Status:
Least Concern

Fun Facts!

The Southern White Faced Scops Owl (Ptilopsis granti) are usually recognisable by their striking white facial discs, with a border of black plumage, and bright orange eyes.

When threatened they create the illusion of being much larger and aggressive by opening their wings, creating a 'semi-circle' around their bodies and fluffing out their feathers to increase their size.

The typical call begins with a rapid, stuttering staccato trill, followed by a clear drown out 'whhhhhy-hooh', with the 'hooh' often slightly rising in pitch.

Hunting from a perch, they drop down and glide low over the ground before swooping to a new perch with their caught prey.

rabbit
guinea-pig