Middle American Screech Owl

Overview

The Middle American screech owl (Megascops guatemalae), also known as the Guatemalan or vermiculated screech owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It ranges from northern Mexico to western Panama and is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Length is 20 to 23 cm with a weight of 95 to 150 g, and it possesses feathered feet, unlike other owls of the same genus.
• Plumage is dimorphic, featuring a grayish-brown morph with a light brown facial disc, thin white brows, yellow eyes, and dark 'ear' tufts, or a rufous morph where streaks are less distinct.
• The upperparts display blackish spots and bars on the crown with darker streaks and vermiculations on the back, while underparts are paler with conspicuous longitudinal and some horizontal stripes.
• The principal territorial song is a rapid, quavering trill that increases in pitch and volume before ending abruptly, accompanied by a secondary song of notes in a bouncing-ball rhythm.

Habitat

The species inhabits humid to semi-arid landscapes, including evergreen, semi-deciduous, and thorn forest, with a lesser presence in secondary forest and plantations. Its elevation range extends from sea level up to 1,500 m, covering areas from Mexico through Central America to western Panama.

Diet

This nocturnal owl hunts mostly by swooping on prey from a perch and also catches it in flight. Its diet consists primarily of large insects, but sometimes includes small vertebrates.

Did you know?

Little is known about the breeding biology of the species, but it apparently nests mostly in March and April, sometimes extending into June. The clutch of two or three eggs is laid in a natural tree cavity or an abandoned woodpecker hole.