Koepckes Screech Owl (Megascops koepckeae)

Koepckes Screech Owl

[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Megascops koepckeae | [authority] Hekstra, 1982 | [UK] Koepckes Screech Owl | [FR] Petit-duc de Koepcke | [DE] Andenkreischeule | [ES] Autillo de Koepcke | [NL] Maria Koepcke-schreeuwuil

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Region Range
Megascops koepckeae SA w Peru, nw Bolivia

Genus

The genus Megascops comprises 22 living species are known at present, but new ones are frequently recognized and unknown ones are still being discovered on a regular basis, especially in the Andes. For most of the 20th century, this genus was merged with the Old World scops-owls in Otus, but nowadays it is again considered separate based on a range of behavioral, biogeographical, morphological and DNA sequence data. Screech-owls are restricted to the Americas. Some species formerly placed with them are nowadays considered more distinct.
As usual for owls, female screech-owls are usually larger and fatter than the males of their species, with owls of both sexes being compact in size, shape, and height. The Eastern Screech-owl Megascops asio is one of the smallest species of owls in North America. All of the birds in this genus are small and agile. Screech-owls are generally colored in various brownish hues with usually a whitish, patterned underside, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees. Some are polymorphic, occurring in a grayish- and a reddish-brown morph.

Physical charateristics

Similar in appearance to the Peruvian Screech-owl (Megascops roboratus), the Koepcke’s Screech-owl is larger in size and has a paler crown and forehead, less obvious nuchal collar and has a light ochre-crown across its neck and sides of its breast

Listen to the sound of Koepckes Screech Owl

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Koepckes Screech Owl.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 23 cm size max.: 25 cm
incubation min.: 0 days incubation max.: 0 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 0 days
broods: 0   eggs min.: 0  
      eggs max.: 0  

Range

South America : West Peru, Northwest Bolivia

Habitat

These owls inhabit wooded areas and arid forest patches on Andean slopes, as well as Polypeis woodland in the upper montane zone.

Reproduction

No data

Feeding habits

Probably insects

Conservation

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
This species is very poorly known, and research is required to determine the status, ecology and biology of this little owl.
Koepckes Screech Owl status Least Concern

Migration

Resident

Distribution map

Koepckes Screech Owl distribution range map

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