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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source ↗
African Scops Owl
Skopsuil · Otus senegalensis
One of the smallest owls in the region, a master of disguise that presses itself against a branch by day and vanishes into the bark. By night it hunts insects and tiny prey, and its soft, far-carrying purring call is one of the most familiar sounds of the Kruger bush after dark.
Log your African Scops Owl sighting — free →How to identify it
Tiny grey owl with small ear tufts that sits bolt upright against a branch, looking just like broken bark.
Listen for its call
A soft, frog-like 'prrrup' every few seconds - easy to miss, easy to imitate.
Where to see it in Kruger
Woodland park-wide, roosting against tree trunks by day; its soft frog-like 'prrrp' is a classic night sound.
Did you know
It is so well camouflaged that it can sit in the open all day and look like part of the tree.
Often confused with
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