The Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops), also known as the European scops owl or just scops owl, is a small owl. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. (The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.) The scientific name is from the Latin otus for an eared owl and Ancient Greek skopos, "watcher".