Bangladesh (B), Bhutan (B), Brunei Darussalam (B), Cambodia (B), China (mainland) (B), Hong Kong (China) (B), India (B), Indonesia (B), Japan (B), Laos (B), Malaysia (B), Myanmar (B), Nepal (B), North Korea (B), Pakistan (B), Russia (Asian) (B), Singapore (B), South Korea (B), Sri Lanka (B), Taiwan (China) (B), Thailand (B), Vietnam (B).
Unknown to Iran [Islamic Republic of] (E).
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) [XC628035]
by Jerome Chie-Jen Ko from Taiwan (near Jiji), Nantou County, Taiwan Province, Taiwan (call, song)
Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) [XC872912]
by Johannes Dag Mayer from Nong Sarai, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (song)
Subspecies
Probably forms superspecies with Mentawai Scops-Owl (Otus mentawi), Indian Scops-Owl (Otus bakkamoena), Sunda Scops-Owl (Otus lempiji), Japanese Scops-Owl (Otus semitorques), Palawan Scops-Owl (Otus fuliginosus) and Luzon Lowland Scops-Owl (Otus megalotis). Previously considered a subspecies of Indian Scops-Owl (Otus bakkamoena), including under synonyms manipurensis and alboniger, a treatment still preferred by many authors, and may intergrade with that species in Nepal. Also, considered by some conspecific with Sunda Scops-Owl (Otus lempiji). Differences in vocalizations, however, suggest specific status. Position of subspecies ussuriensis unclear, but plumage features, eye colour and vocalizations close to Japanese Scops-Owl (Otus semitorques) and possibly better placed with latter. Indochinese population, tentatively included in nominate, may be closer to erythrocampe.
Proposed subspecies aurorae from northern China included in ussuriensis.
The following 6 subspecies are recognised:
lettia Pennant, 1769 - Eastern Nepal, eastern India (West Bengal) and Bangladesh, east to Assam, Myanmar, Thailand (except southern peninsula) and Indochina.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet