Otus brucei

The Pallid Scops-owl is classified as Data Deficient (DD) as there is insufficient data to assess the status of the species in Israel. A Pallid Scops-owl was discovered nesting in a date palm grove in the northern Dead Sea depression in spring 2015. The only previous evidence of breeding in Israel dates back to Israel Aharoni in 1922 from the Jordan Valley. A survey conducted along the Jordan Valley found that the species is a relatively common breeder, from Masu’a in the north to Mitspe Shalom in the south, and its population is estimated at no less than 50 pairs (Ben-Dov & Kiat 2016).

Presence In Israel	Resident
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Short Range / Partial
Zoographical Zones	Irano-Turanian, Sudani
Landscape Types	Plains & Valleys, Rural Area
Vegetation Types	Plantation
Vegetation Densities	Medium
Nest Locations	Tree
Diet Types	Invertebrate, Terrestrial Vertebrates
Foraging Grounds	Ground, Trees and Shrubs
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Unknown

The Pallid Scops-owl is a very small owl that inhabits trees. It resembles the Oriental Scops-owl, but is paler and its legs are covered with feathers. Plumage is light grey with a pattern of dark streaks. It feeds mainly on insects and other arthropods and rarely on small birds and rodents.

• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

• Ben-Dov, A. & Kiat, Y. 2015. Breeding Pallid Scops Owls in Rift valley, Israel, in spring 2015. Dutch Birding.
• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International