Scops Owl (Otus scops)
Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Small, starling sized owl. Smaller than Little Owl. Perches in upright position. Ear-tufts not prominent when relaxed, but gives angular shape to head. Plumage appears uniform, and colour varies from brown to rufous-brown. At closer range, whitish spots on shoulders and yellow eyes with dark surround, are visible. Appears long-winged in flight.
Sound:Song: a slightly descending, short "klooit". The tone is resonant, clear and pure, unlike Little Owl. Calls uttered endlessly in a frequency of about 20 a minute. Resembles Midwife Toad (Alytes), but is clearly modulated in pitch, as opposed to the toads straight tone.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCCC-photo:Willem Vergoossen, Licence,Link.
Unmistakable if seen well. Stunning, bright yellow throat and turquoise underparts. Upperside of wings multicoloured with noticeable light buff shoulders, as opposed to other Bee-eaters in the region. In flight the underwing shows a black trailing edge, which on the secondaries becomes broader closer to the body . Often flies high and then reveals itself only by its flight call.
Sound:Quite vocal in all activities. Call a short and soft "pju" often quickly repeated forming multi-syllabic, rolling phrases.
Contact call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC