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Koepcke's Screech-Owl - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by Mark Harper
Near Leymebamba, Peru, 16 August 2023
Megascops koepckeae

Otus koepckeae

Identification

Dark grey with short ear tufts. Eyes are yellow.

Distribution

Two separate populations in Peru and Bolivia; however, a recent report doubts that it occurs in Bolivia[2].

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.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies[1]:

  • M. k. koepckeae:
  • West slope of Andes of Peru from Lambayeque to Lima, and Marañón valley in Amazonas
  • M. k. hockingi:
  • inter-Andean valleys of central Peru

Habitat

Occurs in woodland at high elevation from temperate zone and above up to 4500 m asl. Polylepis is one of the woodland types containing this owl.

Behaviour

Nocturnal, roosting during the day. Habits are poorly known.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Birdforum thread discussing taxonomy and range of Koepcke's Screech-Owl
  3. König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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