Napo Screech Owl (Megascops napensis)

Napo Screech Owl

[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Megascops napensis | [authority] Chapman, 1928 | [UK] Napo Screech Owl | [FR] Petit-duc du Napo | [DE] Rio Napo-Kreischeule | [ES] – | [NL] Napo Schreeuwuil

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Region Range
Megascops napensis SA e Colombia to n 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

Not strongly streaked with black like some congeners. This owl comes in two morphs, brown and rufous. The brown phase has upperparts sepia, feathers vermiculated with black and ochre-tawny. Eyestripe white. Outer wing coverts with white spots, underparts finely barred with sepia and white. The rufous phase a general hazel color, otherwise the same markings as the brown moprh.

Listen to the sound of Napo Screech Owl

[audio:https://planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Napo Screech Owl.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 20 cm size max.: 23 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 : East Colombia to North Bolivia.Megascops napensis is found along eastern Andean slopes from Ecuador to Bolivia.

Habitat

Montane forest.

Reproduction

No data

Feeding habits

The diet includes insects and probably small vertebrates.

Conservation

Uncertain
The taxonomic status is unclear. Is it a species or a subspecies of the Vermiculated Screech Owl?
Napo Screech Owl status Data Deficient

Migration

Presumed sedentary

Distribution map

Napo Screech Owl distribution range map

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