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Otus brucei

warning Data Missing
DD

Contributed: Asaf Mayrose

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).
DD Current Regional Assessment | LC Previous Regional Assessment | LC World Assessment

Presence In Israel Resident
Nesting In Israel Breeder
Migration Types Short Range / Partial
Zoography Zones Irano-Turanian, Sudano-Zambezian
Landscape Formations Plains & Valleys, Rural Area
Vegetation Formations Plantation
Vegetation Densities Medium
Nest Locations Tree
Diet Types Invertebrate, Vertebrate
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 Unpublished, BirdLife International.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
Contributed: Asaf Mayrose

Current Occupancy Map

Distribution maps

The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel in the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and nesting density during the comparison period. For further reading


Relative Abundance 2010-2020

Breeding density values as calculated from observation records and expert opinions.

Relative Abundance 1980-1990

Breeding density values are based mainly on the book Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Occupancy difference 1990-2020

A map that expresses differences in the breeding distribution between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative value - species previously present but is currently absent, positive value - species has not been recorded previously and is currently present, zero - no change in occupancy.

Relative abundance difference 1990-2020

A map that reflects the changes in the relative abundance of the species between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative values - decline in abundance, positive values - increase in abundance, zero - no change in abundance.


Rarity
Vulnerability
Attractiveness
Endemism
Red number
Peripherality

IUCN category
Definition

() districts
Disjunctiveness:
% of protected sites

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