Ptilopsis leucotis
Northern White-faced Owl
A small greyish-brown owl with a whitish facial disc rimmed in black and long, dark-tipped ear-tufts. Occurs across the drier savanna belt of West Africa, including The Gambia, and typically roosts by day on open, exposed perches rather than hiding deep in foliage.
Identification
Told from other small Gambian owls by the strongly black-rimmed whitish face and prominent ear-tufts; eyes range from amber-yellow to orange. Also sometimes called White-faced Scops Owl.
Want to see the Northern White-faced Owl?
Join Yaya on a trip to one of the sites below, or ask about an itinerary built around it — he'll help you plan the best way to find it in the field.
Where to find it
Western Region, coastal Gambia, near Brufut village (a short drive from the Kotu/Kololi/Senegambia resort area)
Brufut Woods (also known as Brufut Forest or the Brufut Woods Nature Trail) is a small community-managed patch of coastal woodland and forest on the edge of Brufut village, easily reached from the coastal resort area. It's one of the best-known sites in the country for owls and for the Long-tailed Nightjar, and is popular with visiting birders for its mix of dense forest, open woodland, scrub and grassy clearings along a network of trails.