Includes: Roraima Screech-Owl; Rio Napo Screech-Owl
- Megascops roraimae
Identification
20-23 cm.
A relatively dark and coarsely patterned species.
Distribution
This species has two somewhat distinct areas that it occupies. One is the tepuis of the southern Venezuela to neighboring Brazil and the Guianas. The other is mostly on the eastern side of the Andes from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, to Bolivia.
Taxonomy
Foothill Screech-Owl was split from Middle American Screech-Owl and Choco Screech-Owl; when they were together, they were known as Vermiculated Screech-Owl.
This and almost all Screech-Owls in the Americas have previously been considered to belong in the same genus (Otus) as the European and Asian Scops-Owls, but a reassignment to Megascops have been accepted by all main world authorities.
Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized[1].
- M. r. roraimae - tepuis of southern Venezuela, adjacent northern Brazil, southern Guyana, and Suriname
- M. r. napensis - Andean foothills of Venezuela, eastern Colombia and eastern Ecuador
- M. r. pallidus - coastal mountains of northern Venezuela
- M. r. helleri - Tropical eastern Peru
- M. r. bolivianus - Tropical northern Bolivia (Cochabamba)
Habitat
Wet forests mainly at 1000- 1800 m asl, but in some areas considerably lower (500-800 m).
Behaviour
Uncertain. Seems to prefer insects and other animals of a small size.
Vocalisation
A relatively high pitch trill with about 50 elements given during a 5-8 second burst
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- König, C. and F. Weick (2008). Owls of the world, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 9780713665482
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Foothill Screech-Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Foothill_Screech-Owl
