Bare-shanked Screech Owl

Overview

The bare-shanked screech owl (Megascops clarkii) is a large owl in the family Strigidae that feeds at night in forests. It is notable for living in a family-sized group, even during the breeding season, and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Size: 23–25 cm long, weighing 123–190 g, making it large compared to other Megascops species.
• Plumage: Reddish-brown upperbody spotted and mottled with black; pale brown underparts with a tan and yellowish tint and white upper breast.
• Markings: White band across shoulders edged with black, cinnamon bars on flight feathers, and yellowish thighs with bare lower legs.
• Song: Steady, short, low-pitched whistles where the second or third notes are loudest; the female's call is higher in pitch than the male's.

Habitat

This species inhabits dense, humid mountain forests, cloud forests, and forest edges at elevations between 3,000 and 7,600 feet, occasionally reaching almost 11,000 feet. Its range is restricted to Costa Rica, Panama, and far northwestern Colombia, including specific sites such as the Monteverde Biological Reserve and Volcán Poás National Park.

Diet

The owl preys on large insects, shrews, and small rodents. It hunts at night, primarily along the edges of forests, in clearings, or within the canopies.

Did you know?

Unlike many owls that may separate after raising young, the bare-shanked screech owl lives in a family-sized group that persists even during the breeding season.