ONE OF THE characteristic spring and summer sounds of parts of southern Europe is the musical, yet monotonous, low single whistle which forms the song of the Scops Owl (Otus scops). On a warm evening in the south of France one can often hear, at one time, several of these delightful little birds uttering their whistling kyeu over and over again, a t intervals of about 2-4 seconds, for tens of minu...

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