December 01, 2022
A rare and endangered species of owl has been discovered on Príncipe Island off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The bird has been classified as Otus bikegila and named the Príncipe scops owl, after the place where it was discovered. The bird has a unique call—a short “tuu” note that is repeated at a rate of about one note per second, much like an insect call. Scops owls are often found across Eurasia and Africa.
Did You Know?
The owl’s plumage is like the bark of trees—brown and grey in colour. It has a lighter underside while its flight feathers are darker. It has a short tail, yellow eyes and a grey bill.
