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 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Farallones de Cali National Natural Park
Rufescent Screech-Owl
Megascops ingens
White-throated Screech-Owl
Megascops albogularis
Chocó Screech-Owl
Megascops centralis
Mottled Owl
Strix virgata
Spectacled Owl
Pulsatrix perspicillata
Black-White Owl
Strix nigrolineata
Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium nubicola
Andean Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium jardinii
Rufous Banded Owl
Strix albitarsis
Crested Owl
Lophostrix cristata
Striped Owl
Pseudoscops clamator
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 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Tropical Screech-Owl sighting in Farallones de Cali National Natural Park, based on 426 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tropical Screech-Owl in Farallones de Cali National Natural Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Tropical Screech-Owl in Farallones de Cali National Natural Park in our monthly data.