Sokoke Scops Owl

Otus ireneae Ripley, 1966

Sokoke Scops Owl, Otus ireneae, is an owl of lowland forest in se Kenya and ne Tanzania. It was described by Ripley in 1966 and belongs to the family Strigidae. Its breeding range is very limited, with records from coastal Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania, including Arabuko-Sokoke, Dakatcha, and the East Usambara lowlands. It is closely tied to undisturbed forest, especially stands dominated by Cynometra and Brachylaena, and it is associated with the Sokoke Forest. The species is notable for its highly restricted range and its dependence on intact lowland woodland.

Order

Strigiformes

Family

Strigidae — Owls

Breeding range

Africa: se Kenya and ne Tanzania