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SCREECH OWLS (GENUS MEGASCOPS) (5 species). Small nocturnal owls with erectile ear

tufts. Roost in cavities or perched against trunks, where plumage highly cryptic. Do not screech; songs are

series of hoots or purring trills. Species taxonomy vexed by plumage similarities, best resolved by voice.

PACIFIC SCREECH OWL  Megascops cooperi 23–25cm. Lowland forest,

mangrove edge, ranchland with hedgerows and taller trees, gardens. Best told

by voice; lacks strong black rim to facial discs. Brownish gray overall; no rusty

morph known. SOUNDS: Song a slightly overslurred, vaguely bouncing-ball

series of gruff, slightly barking hoots, koh-koh...; typically 12–15 notes in 2 secs.

Faster-paced, rattled purrs and whinnies when agitated, often with laughing or

chuckling cadence. STATUS: Fairly common to common on n. Pacific slope and

adjacent n. Caribbean slope, to 1500m. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

TROPICAL SCREECH OWL  Megascops choliba 23–24cm. Humid foothill

forest and edge, plantations, suburban areas with trees, gardens. Mainly in fairly

open and edge habitats; sometimes feeds under street lights. Gray-brown and

rare rusty morphs occur. Note voice, distinct black rim to facial discs.

SOUNDS: Song a short quavering trill ending with 1–2 louder hoots, oo-oo-oo-

oo-oo-oorr WOOP! typically every 4–9 secs; at a distance, introductory trill

inaudible. STATUS: Fairly common to common on Pacific slope, mainly 400–

1500m, locally to coastal lowlands in south. (Costa Rica to S America.)

*COSTA RICAN [VERMICULATED] SCREECH OWL  Megascops [guatemalae]

vermiculatus 21–23cm. Humid lowland forest, taller second growth, plantations.

Usually in fairly dense understory, not in open habitats. Gray-brown and rusty

morphs occur. Note voice, habitat, face pattern, relatively weak dark streaks on

underparts. SOUNDS: Song a purring trill, typically 4–9 secs, sometimes in­

tensifying slightly before fading abruptly; cf. Cane Toad Rhinella marina.

STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on Caribbean slope, to 1000m; pre­sum­

ably (?) this taxon reported locally on Nicoya Peninsula. (Costa Rica to w.

Panama; presumably s. Nicaragua.)

*SKUTCH’S [VERMICULATED] SCREECH OWL  Megascops [guatemalae] undescribed. 21–23cm?

Habitat, habits, and plumage like Costa Rican Screech Owl (no range overlap). Note voice, lack of

strong black rim to facial discs, weak dark streaks below; cf. Tropical Screech Owl. SOUNDS: Song a short,

swelling, quavering trill, about 0.5–0.7 sec, repeated every 10–18 secs. STATUS: Uncommon on s. Pacific

Slope, to 1400m. (Costa Rica; and adjacent Panama?).

PYGMY OWLS (GENUS GLAUCIDIUM)

(3 species). Very small owls active by day. Songs are

series of toots, easily imitated. Rounded heads have ‘eye-spots’ on sides of nape; juvs. have plain crown or

only a few pale crown markings. Little range overlap among species; note habitat, voice.

*FERRUGINOUS PYGMY OWL  Glaucidium brasilianum 17–18cm. Tropical

and subtropical forest edge, gardens, plantations, mangroves, semi-open areas

with hedgerows; avoids closed forest. See genus intro. Grayish, brown, and rusty

morphs occur. Note voice, long tail (often twitched side-to-side), with numerous

bars, diagnostic whitish streaking on crown. SOUNDS: Song an often prolonged

series of hollow whistles, typically rather steady and often upslurred with

‘inhaled’ quality, hoo hoo..., or whi’ whi’...; 10/3–3.5 secs. Bursts of high yelping

twitters. STATUS: Fairly common on n. Pacific slope, spreading to s. Pacific slope

and n. Caribbean lowlands; rarely to 2000m. (Mexico to S America.)

CENTRAL AMERICAN PYGMY OWL  Glaucidium griseiceps 14–15cm. Hu-

mid forest, mainly in hilly lowlands. See genus intro. Mainly at mid–upper

levels, often in subcanopy. Note spotted crown, relatively short tail with few

pale bars; cf. Ferruginous and Costa Rican Pygmy Owls. SOUNDS: Song a series

of hollow ringing toots, usually starting with 2–4 notes, increasing to 6–9 notes

(rarely up to 18); 10/2–3.5 secs. Song often preceded by soft quavering trills,

also given alone and suggesting trill of Costa Rican Screech Owl. STATUS: Un-

common on Caribbean slope, locally to 1000m. (Mexico to nw. Ecuador.)

Skutch’s

Costa

Rican