African Scops Owl
Call & Sounds
The African Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis) is Africa’s smallest owl species, weighing in at only 50 to 90 grams. They are widespread across Africa and inhabit a range of habitats including wooded savannas, forests, parks and gardens. African Scops Owl are masters of camouflage, their patterned brown and grey plumage blending well with the trunk or branches of a tree when roosting during the day.
What does a African Scops Owl sound like? African Scops Owls make a distinctive advertising call – a short, purring trill ‘prrrup’ which is repeated at intervals for long periods. Each note of this call is actually a very short oscillating trill, giving it the purring quality. Other sounds include a nasal mewing call, soft croaking notes and growling & hissing sounds.
Listen to some examples of African Scops Owl calls and sounds below.
Listen to African Scops Owl Sounds
The audio in the video below features the typical ‘prrrup’ advertising call the African Scops Owl. Recorded in Kafue National Park, Zambia.
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Other African Bird Calls
- Fish Eagle, African (Icthyophaga vocifer)
- Francolin, Crested (Ortygornis sephaena)
- Go-Away-Bird, Grey (Crinifer concolor)
- Goose, Egyptian (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
- Guineafowl, Helmeted (Numida meleagris)
- Hoopoe, African (Upupa epops africana)
- Hornbill, Southern Ground (Bucorvus leadbeateri)
- Ibis, Hadada (Bostrychia hagedash)
- Lapwing, Blacksmith (Vanellus armatus)
- Nightjar, Fiery-necked (Caprimulgus pectoralis)
- Ostrich, Common (Struthio camelus)
- Owl, African Scops (Otus senegalensis)
- Owl, African Wood (Strix woodfordii)
- Owl, Pel's Fishing (Scotopelia peli)
- Owlet, African Barred (Glaucidium capense)
- Owlet, Pearl-spotted (Glaucidium perlatum)
- Roller, Lilac-breasted (Coracias caudatus)