Scops owl \Scops" owl`\ [NL. scops, fr. Gr. ? the little horned owl.]

(Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small owls of the genus Scops having ear tufts like those of the horned owls, especially the European scops owl (Scops giu), and the American screech owl (S. asio).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)