Scope or monocular?

Q Could you clarify the difference between a spotting scope and a monocular, please? Vidusi

A Essentially it’s a matter of size. ‘Monocular’ is usually used to mean a small, handheld telescope, with an objective lens of less than around 40mm – they’re light, portable, and easy to use with one hand, and don’t need a tripod. They’re not hugely popular with birders, because they don’t generally offer anything that a binocular doesn’t give you, but those who combine their birding with other activities, such as climbing or fell-walking, sometimes prefer them. A spotting scope, on the other hand, generally has an objective lens of at least 50mm, and requires a tripod for a steady view, because of its size and weight.