White-throated Screech Owl
Megascops albogularis
The White-throated Screech Owl (Megascops albogularis) is a rare owl found in 5 countries, weighing about 159 g. The white-throated screech owl is a small owl found in the Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
About the White-throated Screech Owl
The white-throated screech owl is a small owl found in the Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The white-throated screech owl is a large member of its genus. It is 20 to 26 cm (7.9 to 10.2 in) long and weighs 130 to 185 g (4.6 to 6.5 oz). It is overall dark plumaged, has a round head with very small ear tufts, and a longish tail. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark brown head and upperparts with small blackish, reddish, and white marks. Their flight feathers and tail have narrow darker bars. They have a dark facial disc with whitish marks above and below the orange eyes and a large white area below the bill that in some postures looks like large moustaches. Voice: The white-throated screech owl has several vocalizations. What is believed to be its primary male song is "gruff, barked notes, 'churrochurro-churro-chu chu chu chu'" given for up to a minute. A secondary song is "evenly spaced hoots, 5 per second". Members of a pair sing in duet, with the female having a higher pitch. The female also has various agitation calls.
What the White-throated Screech Owl sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-throated Screech Owl?
- The white-throated screech owl is a large member of its genus. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-throated Screech Owl?
- The White-throated Screech Owl is a medium sized bird weighing about 159 g.
- Where can you see a White-throated Screech Owl?
- The White-throated Screech Owl occurs in 5 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela.
- What does a White-throated Screech Owl sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the White-throated Screech Owl on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a White-throated Screech Owl?
- The White-throated Screech Owl is most easily confused with the Bare-shanked Screech Owl, the Rufescent Screech Owl and the Black-capped Screech Owl.
- Is the White-throated Screech Owl endangered?
- The White-throated Screech Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-throated Screech Owl for real
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