AFRICAN SCOPS-OWL  
Otus senegalensis

Skopsuil (Afrikaans)

HABITAT
In KwaZulu-Natal Scops owls are found in a few isolated areas in the north east, the north west and around Pietermaritzburg. They occur in woodland and drier savannas. They are usually seen singularly or in pairs. Nocturnal.

TYPE
A very small owl mottled grey brown with a grey face outlined in black and with two prominent 'eartufts'. At rest the tail does not protrude beyond the wings. The eyes are yellow, the bill blackish green and the feet brownish green.

FOOD
The food consists of insects and scorpions which it hunts by dropping from a perch.

BREEDING
They nest between September and November using a natural hole in a tree usually with a top entrance. Usually three white eggs are laid.

STATUS
A sparse resident.