- Megascops kennicottii
Otus kennicottii
Identification
- Brown or dark grey plumage
- Streaked underparts
- Round head with ear tufts
- Yellow eyes
- Yellowish bill.
Distribution
Alaska and north-western Canada to California and Mexico.
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.
A study showing strong genetic structure may indicate a possible future split.
Subspecies[1]
- M. k. kennicottii:
- M. k. macfarlanei
- M. k. bendirei:
- Pacific coast of North America from south central Oregon south through California (west of the Sierra Nevada) to northwestern Mexico (coastal northern Baja California)
- M. k. aikeni:
- South-western US: California east of the Sierra Nevada and Nevada east to Colorado and west Texas
- M. k. cardonensis:
- Northern Baja California
- M. k. xantusi:
- Cape district of southern Baja California
- M. k. yumanensis:
- South-eastern California and south-western Arizona to northern Mexico (north-western Sonora)
- M. k. vinaceus:
- Northern Mexico (southern Sonora and western Chihuahua to northern Sinaloa)
- M. k. suttoni:
Habitat
Open deciduous or mixed woods.
Behaviour
They are active during the night or as dusk approaches.
Breeding
They nest in a cavity in a tree or cactus, often using old woodpecker holes.
Diet
They wait on a perch and swoop down on prey; they may also catch insects in flight. The diet includes small mammals and large insects, also small birds.
References
- 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/
- Paper describing genetic findings with this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Western Screech-Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Western_Screech-Owl
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.