Perhaps the most iconic of Arabuko-Sokoke birds. This wee owl is Africa's smallest & possibly its rarest. Sokoke Scops Owl was believed endemic to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest in coastal Kenya, but was recently found in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania as well.

In Arabuko-Sokoke, it occurs solely in primary Cynometra forest (787 pairs in 99 km2), and at much lower densities in an additional 120 km2 of secondary or more disturbed Cynometra forest. It roosts and forages (primarily for invertebrates -mainly beetles) in the dense lower half of the Cynometra canopy and possibly nests in natural cavities in large or old Brachylaena trees. Birdlife International believe the current population of this species to be around 2,500. This owl is listed as Endangered because it has a very small, severely fragmented range, within which the quality of its habitat is declining, especially through unsustainable removal of large Brachylaena trees, which may be its main resource for nest-cavities.

Sokoke Scops Owls occur in two morphs: a grey form & a rufous form. Birds are best seen at the roost-sites where two or more may be found huddled together. Most calling activity is at dusk & in the period before dawn with the call comprising of Soft 'too too too' notes, repeated 10 or more times per minute.