Serendib Scops - owl (Otus thilohoffmanni), Animals # 02

පඩුවන් බස්සා in Sinhala.

Description overall reddish hue and soft , single - note call help make confusion with other birds unlikely. male has orangish irides , female' are yellowish. Each pair is believed to maintain a territory year-round .

Disturbed forest edges, often near the ground. Appears to be insectivorous.

Restricted to a few lowland rain forests such as sinsharaja, Morapitiya -Runakanda and kitulgala.
Status- first seen in 2001 Described to science only in 2004 by Deepal Warakagoda. First endemic bird to be described from Sri Lanka after 132 years - it is amazing that an endemic sri lankan bird eluded being known for so long.