EURASIAN SCOPS-OWL

Otus scops
Autillo europeo
English: Eurasian Scops-Owl.
German: Zwergohreule.
French: Petit-duc scops.
Order: Strigiformes.
Family: Strigidae.
19-21 cm
The Eurasian Scops-Owl can be confused with the Little Owl, which is slightly larger and has yellow eyes. The Little Owl lacks the typical ‘ear tufts’ of the scops owl. Speckled breast and back.
Both sexes exhibit similar plumage. Some females (at extreme sizes) can be sexed if their P8 is larger than 125mm.
It is possible to recognize 4 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: they appear similar to adults but with very fresh plumage. R1 are narrow and pointed, with white bars bordered by irregular black lines. Primaries are narrow and pointed with the last dark bar diffused or even absent in some cases. Inner secondaries are narrow and pointed.

2nd-year specimen: shows wear on flight feathers and rectrices. The juvenile pattern can be observed in the wings and tail.

3rd-year specimen: this age is only recognizable in a few individuals that retain some juvenile secondaries, which will be pointed and show significant wear.

Adult specimen: have broad and rounded R1, with wider black lines around the white bars compared to juveniles. Primaries are broad and squared at their tips. The last bar is noticeably dark and narrower than the others. Inner secondaries are broad and rounded.

Care should be taken, as the described patterns are not always evident in all individuals.
The Eurasian Scops-Owl undergoes a complete postnuptial molt, which typically starts in July and stops to finish in wintering areas. On the other hand, the post-juvenile molt is a partial process, including body feathers, lesser and median coverts, and sometimes R1. Flight feathers and rectrices are renewed in their first postnuptial molt, although some juvenile secondaries may be retained until the 3rd year.
Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 13-15 per wing.
Rectrices: 12.
Link: http://blascozumeta.com/

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

autillo europeo
Adult specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center: 25mm
Tarsus: 28mm

Adult specimen

 

1.- Right wing primaries. 2.- Details of the tip of P10, P9, P8, and P7. 3.- Details of the inner vane of P10, P9, P8, and P7. 4.- Details of the inner vane of P5, P4, P3, P2, and P1. 5.- Details of the tip of P8 and P7. 6.- Details of the outer vane of P10. 7.- Right wing primaries. 8.- Details of the outer vane of primaries. 9.- Details of the tip of primaries. 10.- Details of the primary shaft. 11.- Secondaries (S1-S6). 12.- Secondaries (S7-S13). 13.- Details of the inner vane of S1, S2, and S3. 14.- Details of the inner vane of S8 and S9. 15.- Details of the tip of S11 and S12. 16.- Details of the inner vane of S11, S12, and S13. 17.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 18.- Details of the outer vane of secondaries. 19.- Details of the tip of secondaries. 20.- Details of the secondary shaft. 21.- Details of the tertials. 22.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 23.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 24.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts. 25.- Details of the primary coverts. 26.- Details of the tip of primary coverts. 27.- Details of the greater coverts. 28.- Details of the greater coverts. 29.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts + median coverts. 30.- Details of the median coverts. 31.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary and secondary coverts (G, M, and P). Alulae. 32.- Details of the lesser coverts. 33.- Primary coverts. 34.- Greater coverts. 35.- Alulae. 36.- Median coverts. 37.- Lesser coverts. 38.- Rectrices. 39.- Details of the rectrices. 40.- Rectrices. 41.- Details of the rectrices shaft. 42.- Details of the rectrices. 43.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 44.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 45.- Uppertail coverts. 46.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 47.- Details of the undertail coverts. 48.- Undertail coverts. 49.- Right wing separators. 50.- Assembly of the right scapula. 51.- Details of the scapula. 52.- Scapular feathers on the right side. 53.- Top: Greater primary underwing coverts. Bottom: Median primary underwing coverts. 54.- Greater secondary underwing coverts. 55.- Assembly of the right flank. 56.- Details of the flank. 57.- Flank feathers on the right side. 58.- Assembly and feathers of the breast. 59.- Assembly and feathers of the belly. 60.- Assembly and feathers of the back. 61.- Assembly and feathers of the right thigh. 62.- Assembly of the crests. 63.- Assembly of the crests. 64.- Assembly of the crests. 65.- Feathers of the crests. 66.- Feathers of the right auricle. 67.- Assembly and feathers of the crown. 68.- Sensitive feathers on the beak.

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