The Philippine scops owl is a fairly small-to-mid-sized species of owl, but is arguably the largest true species of scops owl. Adults measure from 23 to 28 cm (9.1 to 11.0 in). Their body mass can range from 125 to 310 g (4.4 to 10.9 oz), with females often considerably larger than males.
Good catch! I didn't even take notice to that myself. It does add a very nice touch of flair.
The Verrreux Eagle Owl is famous for having pink eyelids, so it would not shock me if this was a pretty natural color for the Scops and not just some flashy photo editing.
For a quick second, the highlighting on its wing made me think it was holding its arm up with its fist under its chin, like it was posing in a school photo. Then I realized I’m a total fucking idiot, and owls don’t have any of those body parts. Brains are weird.
It's got some substantial subspecies variation, with a darker color morph and more or less fluffy legs, so it's got versatility. This light version is the star to me if the bunch though.
I do want to solicit at least some of the participants this year since we've become well established here. I'm curious to see which ones have really impacted you all.