Tropical Screech-Owl
Megascops choliba
Silhouette: Jason Dilworth · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
- FamilyStrigidae (Typical Owls)
- GenusMegascops (Screech-Owls)
- SpeciesMegascops choliba (Tropical Screech-Owl)
About the Tropical Screech-Owl
The tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is a small species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, and every mainland South American country. The taxonomy of genus Megascops is somewhat unsettled. A 2015 publication proposed that the tropical screech owl's closest relatives are the white-throated screech owl (M. albogularis) and Koepcke's screech owl (M. koepckeae). However, the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) has not accepted that assessment.
The following nine subspecies are accepted by the IOC, the Clements taxonomy, and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World. M. c. duidae perhaps represents a separate species. M. c. choliba Vieillot (1817)
M. c. luctisomus Bangs & Pernard (1921) M. c. margaritae Cory (1915) M. c. cruciger Spix (1824) M. c. duidae Chapman (1929) M. c. decussatus Lichtenstein (1823) M. c. uruguaii Hekstra (1982) M. c. surutus Kelso (1941) M. c. wetmorei Brodkorb (1937)
The tropical screech owl is polymorphic, with much variation in color. It is overall gray-brown or (less commonly) brown or rufous, but always with a relatively distinctive... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Tropical Screech-Owl in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Chapada dos Guimarães National Park
Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl
Megascops watsonii
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium brasilianum
Black Banded Owl
Strix huhula
Spectacled Owl
Pulsatrix perspicillata
Striped Owl
Pseudoscops clamator
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
American Barn Owl
Tyto furcata
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Tropical Screech-Owl in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Tropical Screech-Owl sighting in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, based on 164 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tropical Screech-Owl in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Tropical Screech-Owl in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park in our monthly data.