About Otus brucei (Hume, 1872)
The pallid scops owl (scientific name Otus brucei (Hume, 1872)) is a small-eared owl that is similar in appearance to the Eurasian scops owl, but has more distinct streaks on its back and less intricate markings. Its distribution stretches from the Middle East to west and central Asia. Some populations migrate as far as the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and Pakistan during the winter. It lives in semi-open areas that have trees and bushes. Its estimated breeding range covers 6,190,000 km2 (2,390,000 mi2), while its nonbreeding range covers 3,560,000 km2 (1,370,000 mi2). In 2015, a new population of over 400 pairs was discovered in the Rift Valley, Israel. In 2016, additional pairs and nests were found in Jordan, east of the Jordan River; all of these owls nested in palm plantations. There have been many recorded observations of this species in the Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and there is one single recorded observation of the species from paddyfields in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
