Collared Scops Owl

The collared scops owl is a small owl, 23–25cm long but the largest of the scops owls, formerly considered part of what is now the separate Indian scops owl. Like other scops owls it has small head tufts. The upperparts are grey or brown depending on the subspecies, with faint buff spotting, the facial disc is whitish or buff, and the eyes orange or brown (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is a resident breeder in south Asia from northern Pakistan, northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh and the Himalayas east to southern China and Taiwan, partially migratory with some birds wintering in India and Sri Lanka. It is a common breeding bird in forests and other well-wooded areas, nesting in tree hollows and laying three to five eggs. It is nocturnal but can often be located by its call (Wikipedia, general species account).