Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae, most of them belonging to the genus "Otus" and are restricted to the Old World. "Otus" is the largest genus of owls in terms of number of species, with approximately 45 living species known to date. Scops owls are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and/or face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees. Some are polymorphic, occurring in a greyish- and a reddish-brown morph. They are small and agile, with both sexes being compact in size and shape. Female scops owls are usually larger than males.