Pacific
Screech-Owl
A Reference for North and
Central American Owls
The Pacific Screech-Owl can only be found right along the pacific coast from Oaxaca to Costa Rica. It is similar to the Vermiculated and Western Screech-Owls but ,of course, has a distinct call and slightly different markings. Here you can find photos, recordings and information to help identify and enjoy this beautiful owl. The Field Notes section includes a Central American range map and information on nesting, habitat, description and identification. To jump immediately to any of these sections use the Page Jump Links below.
Page Jump Links:
Photo Gallery
Audio Recordings
Field
Notes and Range Map
PHOTO GALLERY
Click on the thumbnail to bring up each of the
Owl photos.
Tarcoles,
Costa Rica
March 2011
Tarcoles,
Costa Rica
March 2011
Tarcoles,
Costa Rica
March 2011
Puerto
Arista
Chiapas, Mexico
March 2002
Puerto Arista
Chiapas, Mexico
March 2002
Puerto Arista
Chiapas, Mexico
March 2002
RECORDINGS
Click on the sonograms to bring up each of the
recordings.
Sound File
40K
Puerto Arista
Chiapas, Mexico
March 2002
Sound File
24K
Puerto Arista
Chiapas, Mexico
March 2002
This is actually three owls. The first short vocalization (a contact call) is a lone male. This is answered by a paired male then female (primary advertising and territorial call).
This is a male's primary advertising and territorial call. This is the most common call heard in the field.
FIELD NOTES
and Range Map
Pacific Screech-Owl - Megascops (Otus)
cooperi
The Pacific Screech-Owl is found only along the Pacific coast from about Central Oaxaca, Southern Mexico to about as far south as Central Costa Rica. It is generally found in semi-open country with scattered trees from sea level to 3000 feet (1000 m.) in elevation. Also found in mangroves, giant cardon, cacti, lakeside fields swamp forests and less numerous in evergreen forests.
This owl roosts in the day in thickets or tree holes and is more easily flushed than most owls. It often becomes active soon after dark and may be seen on low and/or open branches and fence posts. It hunts mostly large insects such as moths, beetles and scorpions pouncing or flycatching from an open perch. It inevitably also takes some small rodents.
Breeding season for this owl is in the dry season, presumed to begin in March. Nests in knothole, woodpecker hole or natural cavity and lays 3-5 eggs; young seen in May. Family group remains together until early into the wet season. Although no population estimates are available, the Pacific Screech-Owl is not considered threatened and is fairly common to common within its range.
Although slightly larger than the Vermiculated Screech-Owl, the Pacific Screech-Owl also has very fine streaking and vermiculations on the underparts. Other than these characteristics the Pacific Screech-Owl is typical in appearance with other screech-owls (Megascops family) and does not have striking field marks to differentiate it.
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