- Megascops marshalli
Otus marshalli
Identification
20-23 cm
Ear tufts very short in a rufous-colored Screech-Owl.
Much of the facial disc is brown, conspicuously rimmed with black. Below the bird has dark center-shaft streaks and rufous bars, separated by white glob-like spots, giving a very unique spotted appearance. Upperside chestnut with white scapular marks. Eyes are brown.
Similar Species
Usually found at higher elevation than Rufescent Screech-Owl.
Distribution
South America: found only in the cloud forests of east side of the Andes of central Peru (Pasco and Cuzco); also recently discovered in Bolivia.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
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
Cloud-forest with very dense understory vegetation, 1,920-2,560 m asl.
Behaviour
"A" song is a series of single notes repeated in a staccato like series at rapid pace. A less frequently heard sound is a "B" type song: This began with three loud well separated notes, followed by a long series of notes, similar to the A song[3].
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- König, C. and F. Weick (2008). Owls of the world, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 9780713665482
- Birdforum thread with description of this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Cloud-forest Screech-Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cloud-forest_Screech-Owl
