Pacific Screech-Owl (Megascops cooperi)

Other Scientific Names
Otus cooperi [BirdLife International (2004)], Otus cooperi [Stotz et al. (1996)]

Other Names (World)
Pacific Screech-Owl, Oaxaca Screech-owl (lambi), Pacific Screech Owl

Family
Strigidae (Typical Owls)

Size
23 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Ridgway, 1878)

Habitat
Subtropical and tropical dry forest. From sea-level - 950 m.

Range (Guide)

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 20,000 - 49,999 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (15)...)

Pacific Screech Owl (Megascops cooperi) [XC749268]
by id from Orotina area, Costa Rica (song)

Pacific Screech Owl (Megascops cooperi) [XC247623]
by Hans Matheve from Hato Nuevo, Chinandega, Nicaragua (call)

Subspecies
Otus kennicottii (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii), Balsas Screech-Owl (Megascops seductus) and Pacific Screech-Owl (Megascops cooperi) following AOU (1998) and moved to the genus Megascops following AOU (2003).

Sometimes considered to form superspecies with Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii), Balsas Screech-Owl (Megascops seductus) and Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio). Often treated as subspecies of Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) or Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii), but appears to be vocally distinct from both. Subspecies lambi proposed as full species, but latest studies indicate that subspecific treatment more appropriate. Subspecies chiapensis poorly differentiated, possibly not tenable.

The following 3 subspecies are recognised:

lambi (Moore, RT & Marshall, JT, 1959) - Southern Mexico (Pacific slope of Oaxaca). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Oaxaca Screech-Owl (Megascops lambi).
chiapensis R. T. Moore, 1947 - South-eastern Mexico (Chiapas).
cooperi (Ridgway, 1878) - Extreme south-eastern Mexico (southern Chiapas) to north-western Costa Rica (Guanacaste).

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Pacific Screech-Owl (Megascops cooperi) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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