LOCAL NAMES

Panduwan Bassa, පඬුවන් කන්බස්සා, රී ලංකා පක්ෂු කන්බස්සා, Panduwan kan bassa, स्कॉप्स उल्लू, স্কোপস আউল, સ્કોપ્સ ઘુવડ, ಸ್ಕೋಪ್ಸ್ ಗೂಬೆ, സ്കോപ്സ് മൂങ്ങ, स्कॉप्स उल्लू, ஸ்கோப்ஸ் ஆந்தை, స్కోప్స్ గుడ్లగూబ, Petit-duc, Zwergohreule, Assiolo, autillo, Сплюшка Сова,اسکوپس اللو, سكوبس بومة

DESCRIPTION

Otus thilohoffmanni, It is the first new bird to be discovered in Sri Lanka since 1868, when the Sri Lanka whistling thrush was discovered. Apart from Sinharaja and Kitulgala, it has also been found at Runakanda Reserve in Morapitiya and Gilimale. Very small rufescent owl, with yellow-orange eyes, and sparse, light speckles on the underparts. The habitat is at altitude range from 30 to 50 meters. This species has a very small population, at the end of January 2006 only 80 of them were known to exist. The places that it is expected to be found are in five protected areas. it is strictly nocturnal and hunts insects (like beetles and moths) close to the ground. It begins calling at dusk, its frequency rising again some two hours before dawn. Their Calls are like … Locally named Panduwan Bassa. It is featured in Sri Lankan 20 rupee note. Also featured in Sri Lankan postal stamp.