Bare-shanked Screech Owl
Megascops clarkii
The Bare-shanked Screech Owl (Megascops clarkii) is a rare owl found in 2 countries, weighing about 158 g. The bare-shanked screech owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae.
About the Bare-shanked Screech Owl
The bare-shanked screech owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is a large owl that feeds at night in forests and lives in a family size group, even during breeding season. The owl's range is only in Costa Rica, Panama, and far northwestern Colombia. The owl preys on large insects, shrews, and small rodents.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The owl is 23 cm (9 in) to 25 cm (10 in) long, 173-190 mm long, and weighs 123-190 g. Its upperbody is reddish-brown and is "spotted, mottled, and vermiculated with black". Its hindneck is yellowish and the feathers on its shoulder has a white band across them, edged with black. The flight feathers have cinnamon-colored bars, while the tail has light and dark bars. Underneath the owl, it is pale brown with a tan and yellowish tint. Its upper breast is partially white, while the lower breast and stomach have either dusky reddish-brown bars or markings with black streaks.
What the Bare-shanked Screech Owl sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bare-shanked Screech Owl?
- The owl is 23 cm (9 in) to 25 cm (10 in) long, 173-190 mm long, and weighs 123-190 g. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Bare-shanked Screech Owl?
- The Bare-shanked Screech Owl is a medium sized bird weighing about 158 g.
- Where can you see a Bare-shanked Screech Owl?
- The Bare-shanked Screech Owl occurs in 2 countries, including Costa Rica and Panama.
- What does a Bare-shanked Screech Owl sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Bare-shanked Screech Owl on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Bare-shanked Screech Owl?
- The Bare-shanked Screech Owl is most easily confused with the Rufescent Screech Owl, the White-throated Screech Owl and the Black-capped Screech Owl.
- Is the Bare-shanked Screech Owl endangered?
- The Bare-shanked Screech Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bare-shanked Screech Owl for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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