South-eastern Brazil (southern Bahia and Goiás south to Santa Catarina), south-eastern Paraguay and extreme north-eastern Argentina (northern Misiones).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Black-capped Screech Owl (Megascops atricapilla) [XC838526]
by id from Fazenda S\u00e3o Miguel, Itaj\u00e1, Goi\u00e1s, Brazil (song)
Black-capped Screech Owl (Megascops atricapilla) [XC838524]
by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA from Fazenda S\u00e3o Miguel, Itaj\u00e1, Goi\u00e1s, Brazil (song)
Subspecies
Otus atricapillus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Otus atricapilla and Otus guatemalae following AOU (1998) and SACC (2005) and Otus hoyi following SACC (2005). These species have subsequently been moved to the genus Megascops following AOU (2003). Otus guatemalae (AOU 1998) includes Otus vermiculatus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993). Gender agreement of Megascops atricapilla follows David and Gosselin (2002a).