Tropical Screech Owl
Megascops choliba
The Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba) is a uncommon owl found in 15 countries, weighing about 132 g. The tropical screech owl is a small species of owl in the family Strigidae.
About the Tropical Screech Owl
The tropical screech owl is a small species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, and every mainland South American country.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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".
What the Tropical Screech Owl sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Tropical Screech Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Tropical Screech Owl?
- The tropical screech owl is polymorphic, with much variation in color. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Tropical Screech Owl?
- The Tropical Screech Owl is a medium sized bird weighing about 132 g.
- Where can you see a Tropical Screech Owl?
- The Tropical Screech Owl occurs in 15 countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica and Ecuador.
- What does a Tropical Screech Owl sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Tropical Screech Owl on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Tropical Screech Owl?
- The Tropical Screech Owl is most easily confused with the Western Screech Owl, the Whiskered Screech Owl and the Tawny-bellied Screech Owl.
- Is the Tropical Screech Owl endangered?
- The Tropical Screech Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Tropical 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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