en/sustainability/biodiversity/animals/birds/tropical-screech-owl/530

Biodiversity

< Back

Tropical Screech Owl
Megascops choliba | Vieillot, 1817

Characterization: Species measuring about 22,6cm length, with a wingspan of 54cm, and weighing 97-134g. This species is more common with short ears, and it is hard to see at dusk. Yellow iris, gray chest with dark, vertical splashes on fine transverse stripes.

Distribution: It occurs from Costa Rica to Bolivia to Paraguay and Argentina, and throughout Brazil.

Habitat: It lives in secondary forest areas and at the edge of dry or moist forests, but avoids going in to the dense forest.

Habits: This is a nocturnal species, and is almost always seen perched in trees. One of the most common owls in cities, urban parks, and farms.

Diet: This bird hunts large insects like grasshoppers and moths, especially near light poles, where they concentrate. Less frequent in their diet, but also important are small vertebrates like mice and frogs.

Breeding: This bird lays eggs from January to July, nesting in hollow trees. Termite holes, hollow brick pillars in the houses, holes in the roofs of abandoned houses, in woodpecker holes or in any safe cavity. Their nests are only occasionally made in the shape of a basket on trees.

In the UFRA area: This owl species was not spotted frequently and is considered rare, because it was only seen 2 times. It occurred most often in restored native forests and wetlands with riparian forests.