- Megascops choliba
Identification
20-24cm. Short ear tufts, yellow eyes, light grey, black edged facial disk, heavily streaked upper-parts and under-parts marked with herring bone pattern. Grey, brown and red colour morphs occur with intermediates.
Distribution
From Costa Rica through the northern half of South America.
Taxonomy
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
Savanna, open forest, plantations, parks, clearings.
Behaviour
The diet includes insects and other invertebrates, occasionally snakes and small mammals.
1-4 eggs are laid in a tree cavity.