Koepcke's Screech Owl

Overview

Koepcke's screech owl (Megascops koepckeae) is a species of owl in the family Strigidae that is endemic to Peru. It is the sister species of the tropical screech owl and was named in honour of the German ornithologist Maria Koepcke.

Identification

• Approximately 24 cm long with a weight ranging from 112 to 130 g depending on the subspecies.
• M. k. koepckeae features a whitish gray facial disc with darker speckles and a blackish rim, short whitish brows, and yellow eyes.
• Upperparts are grayish brown to dark brown with blackish streaks and dark barring, while the underparts are grayish white with wide dark brown streaks and irregular bars.
• Territorial song is a loud, staccato series of notes with slowing pace and rising volume described as 'ko-ko-ko-ko ka ka KA KAH!'.

Habitat

Found only in Peru, the nominate subspecies inhabits evergreen forests between 1,840 and 4,500 m, whereas M. k. hockingi occupies dry forest and scrubby areas in intermontane valleys between 1,400 and 3,400 m, usually below 2,000 m. The species appears to adapt well to highly degraded habitat provided that some trees remain for nesting and roosting.

Diet

Like most other screech owls, the species is nocturnal. Its diet has not been well studied but appears to consist mostly of insects and might include small vertebrates.

Did you know?

Although it is assumed to nest in tree cavities like others of its genus, the only reported nest was found in a cavity in an earthen bank.