small body; ear tufts; bark-like plumage (Spain; 2006-06-10)


Eurasian Scops Owl
Otus scops

Native Range: Eurasia

Notes: Europe's only small owl with ear tufts; nocturnal; feeds mainly on large insects; plumage looks remarkably like tree bark.

yellow iris; sharp talons (Spain; 2006-06-10)
showing back of head, which lacks eye-spots (Spain; 2006-06-10)

perhaps looking for a grasshopper (Spain; 2006-06-10)
head-on view (Spain; 2006-06-10)