Birds of Ecuador

    STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae (Owls)  
Genus: Megascops (8 species, 22 worldwide)

Genus Megascops, Screech Owls, are small owls, around 24 cm., which stay hidden during the day, and are usually only heard at night.


White-throated Screech Owl
White-throated Screech Owl (Megascops albogularis)
Reserva Yanacocha, Pichincha, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Angus Pritchard   © All Rights Reserved.


Choco Screech Owl
Choco Screech Owl (Megascops centralis)
Valle de Cauca, Colombia
  Rufous morph.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Split from the Vermiculated Screech Owl because of vocalization differences (shorter song). The two species split is somewhere in central Panama. Lacking black border to facial disk seen on Tropical Screech Owl (if you see one without hearing it). There is a grey morph that does appears to have a bit of a border to the facial disk (or maybe the few photos show a shadow), and a rufous morph.
Rufous morph roosting.


Tropical Screech Owl
Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba)
ProAves Blue-billed Curassow Reserve, Puerto Pinzon, Boyaca, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Widespread and common, and best identified by black border to facial disk, and the rising final note in song.
A grey and a rufous owl at a typical roost site.
Daytime shot from back.

Rufescent Screech Owl
Rufescent Screech Owl (Megascops ingens)
Manu, Peru  
   
Photograph by Joel N. Rosenthal   © All Rights Reserved.

In IOC 9.1 the dark-eyed and less rufous Colombian Screech Owl was merged with this species. Found locally around 1500m. Not too vocal. Rufescent.

Cinnamon Screech Owl
Cinnamon Screech Owl (Megascops petersoni)
Owlet Lodge, Abra Patricia, San Martín, Peru  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

Found on the eastern Andean slope on southeast Ecuador and northeast Peru. Also recorded in a few spots in northern Ecuador and Colombia. Note lack of white on belly (Ridgely).

West Peruvian Screech Owl
West Peruvian Screech Owl (Megascops roboratus)
Jaen, Peru  
   
Photograph by Bradley Hacker   © All Rights Reserved.

Very small, but one race (rightmost area on map in an inter-Andean valley) is larger. Comes in grey-brown and rufous morphs. Taxonomy uncertain, but looks like a Tropical Screech Owl. (HBW)

Foothill Screech Owl
Foothill Screech Owl (Megascops roraimae napensis)
Reserva Natural La Isla Escondida, Orito, Putumayo, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Tawny-bellied Screech Owl
Tawny-bellied Screech Owl (Megascops watsonii watsonii)
Surama, Guyana  
   
Photograph by Bradley Hacker   © All Rights Reserved.

Note dark border to facial disk similar to Tropical Screech Owl, but note tawny chest and orange (not yellow) eyes. The subspecies south of the Amazon is darker and has a brown and rufous morph (HBW).


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