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Glite Dictionary
Otus scops

Otus scops

9.9
A small owl that lives in southern Europe and nearby parts of Asia and Africa
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Otus scops
  • Unlike many larger owls, the Otus scops prefers to nest in tree hollows.

Examples

  • The Otus scops is known for its distinctive call.

  • Did you know that the Otus scops is a nocturnal bird?

  • Birdwatchers were excited to spot an Otus scops in the Mediterranean forest.

  • The Otus scops is known for its distinctive whistling call during the breeding season.

  • Birdwatchers were excited to spot an Otus scops in the Mediterranean forest.

  • The Otus scops is known for its distinctive whistling call during the breeding season.

  • Unlike many larger owls, the Otus scops prefers to nest in tree hollows.

Synonyms

Old World scops owl
vsOtus scops
  • UK
8.7

A small European owl with feathers that blend into tree bark and a soft call

is the scientific name for that species and includes Asia and Africa in its range
scops owl
vsOtus scops
  • UK
8.7

A small owl with ear feathers that makes a soft whistling call at night in Europe, Asia, and Africa

is the specific scientific name for the European form rather than a general description

Surface Forms

Otus scops main

Morphology

Otus + scops

This is a Latin binomial scientific name (a proper noun) rather than a compositional English phrase; 'Otus' is a genus label and 'scops' is not a productive English word, so their literal meanings do not yield 'European scops owl.' Understanding this requires biological/taxonomic knowledge rather than knowledge of constituent English words, so a B1 learner would not be able to derive the meaning.

Etymology

Otus scops may come from old names for little owls: Otus was used for owls with small ear tufts and scops comes from a word for a 'small owl'. So the name paints the picture of a tiny, tufted owl and that is why it refers to the European scops owl today.