- Megascops cooperi
Otus cooperi
Includes Oaxaca Screech-Owl
Identification
Medium-large owl up to 23cm or 9 inches.
- Brown with dark streaks on the chest
- Longish ear tufts
Distribution
The Pacific coast of south-central Mexico and Central America, to Central Costa Rica.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1]:
- M. lambi - Coastal s Mexico (Pacific slope of Oaxaca)
- M. cooperi - Pacific slope of southern Mexico (extreme eastern Oaxaca and Chiapas) south to northwestern Costa Rica
Some authorities split the two taxa into separate species: Pacific Screech-Owl (M. cooperi) and Oaxaca Screech-Owl (M. lambi).
The subspecies lambi has in the past been included in Eastern Screech-Owl but differs among other things in having bristled toes (not feathered).
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 among other authorities, the American Ornithologists' Union.
Habitat
It is found in wooded areas as well as semi open sites such as forest edges and trees along waterways.
Behaviour
Diet
They are nocturnal but also sometimes seen at twilight, preying mostly on large insects (such as moths, beetles, scorpiones) along with the occasional small rodent.
Vocalisation
Voice of the Oaxaca Screech-Owl form differs from the voice of birds from the rest of this taxon[2].
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Pacific Screech-Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pacific_Screech-Owl
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
