Cloud-forest Screech-Owl
NameCloud-forest Screech-Owl
Common NameCloud-forest Screech-Owl
Scientific NameMegascops marshalli
FamilyStrigidae
Wingspan (cm)42
Length (cm)20
Weight (g)90
Plumage DetailsOverall rufous-brown to grayish-brown, heavily mottled and vermiculated with darker brown and blackish markings, providing excellent camouflage. Underparts are paler with fine streaks and barring. It has dark brown eyes and an indistinct facial disc, with small, often inconspicuous ear tufts.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalization is typically a series of soft, hooting notes, which can sometimes accelerate or vary in pitch, often described as a soft, purring trill or a series of short hoots.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeEndemic to the Andes mountain range, found in southern Peru and northern Bolivia, typically at elevations between 1,200 and 2,500 meters.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Dark brown eyes (lacking yellow eyes common in many owls), Mottled brown/gray plumage for camouflage, Inhabits high-altitude cloud forests, Distinctive soft hooting call
Description
This small, nocturnal owl is expertly camouflaged with its mottled brown and grayish plumage, allowing it to blend seamlessly with mossy tree bark. It inhabits dense cloud forests, where it hunts insects and small vertebrates under the cover of darkness.
