Voice and daytime calling of Scops Owls (Otus scops)

Mikkola, Anita; Mikkola, Heimo

doi:10.1515/orhu-2015-0014

Abstract

The Scops Owl (Otus scops) is one of the least studied owls in Europe and its loud and monotonous calls are not well documented. This paper summarises published alarm-like calls and presents data on daytime calling recorded in Lesencetomaj, Hungary between 9^th and 17^th September 2012. Calls were similar to the sound of an alarm on a reversing truck. The bird was most active around midday (11–13 hrs) and in the afternoons between 15–17 hrs. No calling occurred before 09.00 or after 19.15 o’clock. Weather affected the intensity of calls and particularly high autumn temperatures are suggested as a possible reason for this unusual activity.

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Voice and daytime calling of Scops Owls (Otus scops)

Abstract

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