Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl
NameTawny-bellied Screech-Owl
Common NameTawny-bellied Screech-Owl
Scientific NameMegascops petersoni
FamilyStrigidae
Wingspan (cm)45
Length (cm)21.5
Weight (g)95
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are dark grayish-brown, heavily mottled and streaked with blackish and buff. Underparts are paler, with a prominent tawny or rufous wash on the belly and flanks, streaked with black. The facial disc is indistinct, and it has prominent ear tufts.
Vocalization / CallIts primary call is a series of short, accelerating hoots, often described as a "bouncing ball" or "purring trill."
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to the humid montane forests of the Andes in southern Ecuador and northern Peru.
Identifying Featuresprominent ear tufts, bright orange eyes, tawny wash on belly, small size, mottled brown plumage, accelerating hooting call
Description
A small, nocturnal owl characterized by its mottled brown plumage, prominent ear tufts, and striking orange eyes. It typically perches quietly in the dense canopy of montane forests, hunting insects and small vertebrates.
