Vermiculated Screech-Owl (Megascops vermiculatus)

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

Family
Strigidae (Typical Owls)

Size
20 - 21 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Sharpe, 1875)

Habitat
Subtropical and tropical lowland moist forest. From sea-level - 1,800 m.

Range (Guide)

Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.

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

Population
Estimated population is 50,000 - 499,999 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (5)...)

Vermiculated Screech Owl (Megascops vermiculatus) [XC489605]
by Daniel Lane from La Selva, Sarapiqui, Heredia, Costa Rica (song)

Vermiculated Screech Owl (Megascops vermiculatus) [XC190370]
by Patrick ODonnell from Donoso, Colon, Panama (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).

Perhaps a member of a superspecies, along with Guatemalan Screech-Owl (Megascops guatemalae), Yungas Screech-Owl (Megascops hoyi), Black-capped Screech-Owl (Megascops atricapilla) and Long-tufted Screech-Owl (Megascops sanctaecatarinae). Sometimes considered conspecific with Guatemalan Screech-Owl (Megascops guatemalae), but vocally distinct. Isolated subspecies roraimae and napensis possibly separate species. Additional subspecies described from Peru (helleri) and Bolivia (bolivianus) here merged with napensis, but possibly merit subspecific recognition.

The following 3 subspecies are recognised:

vermiculatus Ridgway, 1887 - North-eastern Costa Rica to north-western Colombia, northern Venezuela. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Guatemalan Screech-Owl (Megascops guatemalae).
roraimae (Salvin, 1897) - North-eastern Colombia to northern Venezuela and the tepuis of southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and adjacent Brazil. Also eastern slope of the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Roraima Screech-Owl (Megascops roraimae).
napensis Chapman, 1928 - Eastern Ecuador to Peru, and northern Bolivia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Rio Napo Screech-Owl (Megascops napensis).

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Vermiculated Screech-Owl (Megascops vermiculatus) - 10 files

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BirdLife International

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