Owl seen in downtown Colombo, Sri Lanka (1 Viewer)

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Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jul 9, 2017

• #1

Dear colleagues
I saw an owl right in the city at night time, but it was only a fleeting view as it flew across the street landing very briefly on a house then moving on.

All I got was a fleeting impression of a grey/brown owl.

Does anyone know which species are candidates for this sighting given the location of urban Colombo?

Thank you

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jul 9, 2017

• #2

Spotted Owlet are common in towns and villages.


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andyb39

Well-known member

• Jul 9, 2017

• #3

Spotted Owlet is not present in Sri Lanka. Jungle Owlet occurs, but is supposedly more of a forest bird. The behavior doesn't sound like a Scops species though.

 

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Jul 9, 2017

• #4

andyb39 said:

Spotted Owlet is not present in Sri Lanka. Jungle Owlet occurs, but is supposedly more of a forest bird. The behavior doesn't sound like a Scops species though.

Click to expand...

I agree with that. I think we don't have enough info for ID (not like a Scops, neither like a Glaucidium).

 

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andyb39

Well-known member

• Jul 9, 2017

• #5

I've asked a birding contact who lives in Colombo what he thinks. Will get back to you when or if he replies.

 

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Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jul 9, 2017

• #6

re; Owl in Colombo

Dear everyone.
Thanks for your answers.
Andy - thank you - I look forward to the answer from your contact in Colombo.
With kind regards
Ian

 

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andyb39

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2017

• #7

He's suggested Brown Hawk Owl,l AKA Brown Boobook, as a possibility.

Apparently Barn Owl is also seen in Colombo but I expect you"d have recognised one.

 

Last edited: Jul 10, 2017

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Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2017

• #8

owl in Colombo

Dear Andy
Thanks for the suggestion.
As for barn Owl. I think it was smaller than a barn owl. Darker too I think.
In regard to the brown hawk owl. .. Again I think it was smaller and perhaps a little greyer.
I am still thinking of scops owl.
Please does your friend know if it might have been a scops owl. If so which species of scops owl is more common and whether these are found in the urgan colombo?.
I understand there are two : collared scops owl and indian scops owl.
Yours with thanks Ian

 

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andyb39

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2017

• #9

If it was Scops-size, it would have been the bakkamoena form of Indian.

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Jul 10, 2017

• #10

kasfig said:

All I got was a fleeting impression of a grey/brown owl.

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Depending on how fleeting, it's also pretty easy to get the impression of an owl from something that wasn't an owl in poor light, when everything also can look grey/brown, and shapes can be blurred. I'd be very wary of putting a specific name to this sighting!

 

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Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2017

• #11

owl colombo

Dear Andy and Larry
Thanks very much

I shall put it down to the one that got away
The comment on the indian scops is interesting

Ian