Bird Guide

Tropical Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl

Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba)

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Medium132 gUrban

The tropical screech owl is polymorphic, with much variation in color. It is overall gray-brown or (less commonly) brown or rufous, but always with a relatively distinctive blackish edge to the face and yellow irides. Its undersides are pale with a black "herringbone" pattern. The subspecies differ in the intensity of the colors and the amount of black markings on the upper- and underparts. Adults are 21 to 23 cm (8.3 to 9.1 in) long and weigh 97 to 160 g (3.4 to 5.6 oz). Voice: The tropical screech owl's primary song is "short, purring trill, followed by two accentuated clear notes". The female's song is similar to the male's but higher pitched. A secondary, courtship, song is "a bubbling bububúbubu". They also produce "a variety of cackles and longer hooting notes".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Tropical Screech Owl
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · Osma, La Guaira, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Raul Herbster · CC BY 2.0
Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis)

Whiskered Screech Owl

Megascops trichopsis

Medium88 gForest

Adults occur in 2 color morphs, in either brown or dark grey plumage. They have a round head with ear tufts, yellow eyes and a yellowish bill. The bird looks very similar to a western screech owl, but has heavier barring on the breast, and is slightly smaller in size. They are 6.3 to 7.9 in and have a wingspan of 17.3 in.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Whiskered Screech Owl
Recorded by Ryan Douglas · Madera Canyon Picnic Grounds, Pima County, Arizona, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Tropical Screech Owl and Whiskered Screech Owl.