Sao Tome scops-owl

Description

The São Tomé scops owl is a small,secretive owl with small ear-tufts.It has light reddish-brown facial disc with a white chin and white eyebrows.The crown and upperparts are chestnut with rufous wavy markings and black shaft streaks.There scapulars have white spots and black tips.The flight feathers are buff with white mottling and narrow there are buff bars on the tail.The underparts are rufous with fine vermiculations of brown and white and bold black streaking.Juveniles are paler.It is a small owl,about 18 centimetres (7.1 in) long,weighing about 79 grams (0.174 lb).