Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis) | Photos, Calls and ID

LCLeast ConcernInvertebrates

ForestCavity nestMedium · 88 g

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 1 — Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 2 — Photo: brendanboyd · CC BY 4.0

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 3 — Photo: cello caruso-turiello · CC BY 4.0

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 4 — Photo: cello caruso-turiello · CC BY 4.0

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 5 — Photo: Tommy Andriollo · CC BY 4.0

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 6 — Photo: Tommy Andriollo · CC BY 4.0

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 7 — Photo: Alina Martin · CC BY 4.0

Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis), photo 8 — Photo: Alina Martin · CC BY 4.0

What the Whiskered Screech Owl sounds like

Sonogram of the Whiskered Screech Owl: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.

Recorded by Ryan Douglas · Madera Canyon Picnic Grounds, Pima County, Arizona, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Whiskered Screech Owl

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 6 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Whiskered Screech Owl

Regular range

The map shades 6 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

United States Mexico Guatemala Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua

About the Whiskered Screech Owl

The whiskered screech owl is a small screech owl found in North and Central America.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Tawny-bellied Screech OwlMegascops watsoniiThe tawny-bellied screech owl is 19 to 24 cm (7.5 to 9.4 in) long.

Pacific Screech OwlMegascops cooperiThe Pacific screech owl is a medium-sized member of Megascops and has prominent "ear" tufts and bright yellow eyes.

Middle American Screech OwlMegascops guatemalaeThe Middle American screech owl is 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in) long and weighs 95 to 150 g (3.4 to 5.3 oz).

Side by side: Eastern Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl · Western Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl · Tropical Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl · Tawny-bellied Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl · Pacific Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl · Middle American Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl

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