Tropical Screech-Owl

Megascops choliba

Silhouette: Jason Dilworth · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
FamilyStrigidae (Typical Owls)
GenusMegascops (Screech-Owls)
SpeciesMegascops choliba (Tropical Screech-Owl)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Manuel Antonio National Park

1 Verified sightings at Manuel Antonio National Park From 2019 to 2026

4,716 Verified sightings across all 49 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

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 →

Closest Relatives at Manuel Antonio National Park

Megascops guatemalae

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Glaucidium brasilianum

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Pseudoscops clamator

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Strix virgata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Strix nigrolineata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tyto furcata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~60%
2	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~30%
3	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~20%
4	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
5	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
6	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
7	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
8	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
9	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
10	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
11	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
12	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
13	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
14	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
15	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
16	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
17	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
18	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
19	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
20	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
21	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
22	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
23	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
24	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
25	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
26	Serra da Canastra National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
27	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
28	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
29	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
30	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
31	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
32	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
33	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
34	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
35	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
36	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
37	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
38	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
39	Noel Kempff Mercado National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
40	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
41	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
42	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
43	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
44	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
45	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
46	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
47	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
48	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
49	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

← Back to Manuel Antonio National Park

Tropical Screech-Owl

About the Tropical Screech-Owl

Recent sightings of Tropical Screech-Owl in Manuel Antonio National Park

Closest Relatives at Manuel Antonio National Park

Vermiculated Screech-Owl

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Spectacled Owl

Striped Owl

Mottled Owl

Black-White Owl

American Barn Owl

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found