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Difference between revisions of "Middle American Screech-Owl" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Vermiculated_Screech_Owl2005-11-02.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Subspecies ''M. g. vermiculatus''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Don+Gato|Don Gato}}<br />La Selva Biological Station (OTS), Sarapiqui de Heredia, [[Costa Rica]], February 2005]]
 
[[Image:Vermiculated_Screech_Owl2005-11-02.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Subspecies ''M. g. vermiculatus''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Don+Gato|Don Gato}}<br />La Selva Biological Station (OTS), Sarapiqui de Heredia, [[Costa Rica]], February 2005]]
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'''Includes a very narrowly defined "Vermiculated Screech-Owl", ''M.g. vermiculatus''. For the former, much more broadly defined species of that name, see [[Vermiculated Screech-Owl]].'''<br />
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'''Includes: Vermiculated Screech-Owl''' (narrowly defined; ''M. g. vermiculatus''. See [[Vermiculated Screech-Owl]] for the former broadly defined (Clements) species of this name.)
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'''Alternative name: Guatemalan Screech-Owl'''
 
'''Alternative name: Guatemalan Screech-Owl'''
 
;[[:Category:Megascops|Megascops]] guatemalae
 
;[[:Category:Megascops|Megascops]] guatemalae
 
''Otus guatemalae''
 
''Otus guatemalae''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Includes both greyish and reddish morphs. Generally boldly patterened, including a row of white spots across shoulder. Underside paler than upperside but with black shaft streaks and cross markings. Wings do not reach beyond tip of tail. Eyes orange-yellow, bill greenish.
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Includes both greyish and reddish morphs. Generally boldly patterned, including a row of white spots across shoulder. Underside paler than upperside but with black shaft streaks and cross markings. Wings do not reach beyond tip of tail. Eyes orange-yellow, bill greenish.
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====Variation====
 
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Subspecies ''M.g. vermiculatus'' distinguished by having more [[Dictionary_T-Z#V|vermiculations]], shorter tail, and by leg feathering not reaching the toes.
 
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==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Widely distributed from northern [[Mexico]] to the Yucatan Peninsula as well as to [[Costa Rica]] and probably to westhern [[Panama]].
 
Widely distributed from northern [[Mexico]] to the Yucatan Peninsula as well as to [[Costa Rica]] and probably to westhern [[Panama]].
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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 all main world authorities.
 
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 all main world authorities.
  
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Middle American Screech-Owl was split from [[Choco Screech-Owl]]  and [[Foothill Screech-Owl]]; when they were together, they were known as Vermiculated Screech-Owl.
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Clements splits Middle American Screech-Owl from [[Choco Screech-Owl]]  and [[Foothill Screech-Owl]]; this authority called the previous combined taxon "[[Vermiculated Screech-Owl]]".
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Some authorities elevate subspecies ''vermiculatus'' as "Vermiculated Screech-Owl" (narrow sense), ''M. vermiculatus'' (e.g. [[#References|[2]]]).
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
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Seven subspecies are currently recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:  
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Clements recognises the following subspecies [[#References|[1]]]:
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*''M. g. hastatus'' - western Mexico (southeastern Sonora to Oaxaca)
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*''M. g. hastatus'': western Mexico (southeastern Sonora to Oaxaca)
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*''M. g. cassini'' - eastern Mexico (southern Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz)
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*''M. g. cassini'': eastern Mexico (southern Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz)
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*''M. g. fuscus'' - Mountains of eastern Mexico (central Veracruz)
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*''M. g. fuscus'': Mountains of eastern Mexico (central Veracruz)
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*''M. g. thompsoni'' - Yucatán Peninsula and Cozumel Island
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*''M. g. thompsoni'': Yucatán Peninsula and Cozumel Island
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*''M. g. guatemalae'' - mountains of southeast Mexico (southeast Veracruz and northeast Oaxaca) to Honduras
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*''M. g. guatemalae'': mountains of southeast Mexico (southeast Veracruz and northeast Oaxaca) to Honduras
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*''M. g. dacrysistactus'' - Mountains of northern Nicaragua
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*''M. g. dacrysistactus'':  Mountains of northern Nicaragua
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*''M. g. vermiculatus - Costa Rica (and western Panama on the Caribbean side)
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*''M. g. vermiculatus'': "'''Vermiculated Screech-Owl'''". Costa Rica (and western Panama on the Caribbean side). [more [[Dictionary_T-Z#V|vermiculations]], shorter tail, leg feathering does not reach toes]
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The IOC checklist recognizes the last subspecies as a full species, Vermiculated Screech-Owl<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Lowland to mid-elevation in both humid and dryer forests and woodland.  
 
Lowland to mid-elevation in both humid and dryer forests and woodland.  

Revision as of 09:31, 2 October 2023

Subspecies M. g. vermiculatus
Photo © by Don Gato
La Selva Biological Station (OTS), Sarapiqui de Heredia, Costa Rica, February 2005

Includes: Vermiculated Screech-Owl (narrowly defined; M. g. vermiculatus. See Vermiculated Screech-Owl for the former broadly defined (Clements) species of this name.)

Alternative name: Guatemalan Screech-Owl

Megascops guatemalae

Otus guatemalae

Identification

Includes both greyish and reddish morphs. Generally boldly patterned, including a row of white spots across shoulder. Underside paler than upperside but with black shaft streaks and cross markings. Wings do not reach beyond tip of tail. Eyes orange-yellow, bill greenish.

Distribution

Widely distributed from northern Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula as well as to Costa Rica and probably to westhern Panama.

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 all main world authorities.

Clements splits Middle American Screech-Owl from Choco Screech-Owl and Foothill Screech-Owl; this authority called the previous combined taxon "Vermiculated Screech-Owl".

Some authorities elevate subspecies vermiculatus as "Vermiculated Screech-Owl" (narrow sense), M. vermiculatus (e.g. [2]).

Subspecies

Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:

  • M. g. hastatus: western Mexico (southeastern Sonora to Oaxaca)
  • M. g. cassini: eastern Mexico (southern Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz)
  • M. g. fuscus: Mountains of eastern Mexico (central Veracruz)
  • M. g. thompsoni: Yucatán Peninsula and Cozumel Island
  • M. g. guatemalae: mountains of southeast Mexico (southeast Veracruz and northeast Oaxaca) to Honduras
  • M. g. dacrysistactus: Mountains of northern Nicaragua
  • M. g. vermiculatus: "Vermiculated Screech-Owl". Costa Rica (and western Panama on the Caribbean side). [more vermiculations, shorter tail, leg feathering does not reach toes]

Habitat

Lowland to mid-elevation in both humid and dryer forests and woodland.

Behaviour

Nocturnal, during daytime usually hiding in tree cavities or among branches with high leaf cover.

Food is mainly invertebrates with some small vertebrates taken.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2021. IOC World Bird List (v 11.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.11.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  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

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