Cinnamon screech owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cinnamon screech owl |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Megascops
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| Species: |
petersoni
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| Synonyms | |
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Otus petersoni Fitzpatrick & O'Neill, 1986 |
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The cinnamon screech owl (Megascops petersoni) is a small type of owl. It belongs to the owl family called Strigidae. You can find this special owl in the Andes mountains of Ecuador and Peru. It might even live in Colombia too!
Contents
About the Cinnamon Screech Owl
How it Got its Name
Scientists first officially described the cinnamon screech owl in 1986. It was one of many Megascops owls discovered around that time. Its scientific name, petersoni, honors Roger Tory Peterson. He was a very famous bird expert who helped create modern field guides.
This owl is closely related to other screech owls. Its closest relatives are thought to be the rufescent screech owl and the cloud-forest screech owl. The cinnamon screech owl is monotypic, which means it doesn't have any different subspecies.
What it Looks Like
The cinnamon screech owl is a small bird. It is about 23 to 24 centimeters (9 to 9.5 inches) long. It weighs between 88 and 119 grams (about 3 to 4 ounces).
Adult owls have a warm brown face. This "facial disc" has a dark border. The rest of its face is a light, creamy color. They have dark brown eyes and a blue-gray beak. They also have medium-sized "ear" tufts on their heads.
Their top feathers are cinnamon brown. They have fine, darker brown and buffy patterns. Their wings and tail are also cinnamon colored. These parts have brownish and blackish bars. The owl's belly and chest are a rich cinnamon buff color. There are some wavy brown marks on its throat and chest. Scientists have not yet described what a young cinnamon screech owl looks like.
Where it Lives
The cinnamon screech owl lives on the eastern side of the Andes mountains. It is found from southern Ecuador into northern Peru. Some experts also believe it lives in Colombia. It might even live further south in Peru.
This owl prefers humid montane forest. These are forests found in mountains. In Ecuador, it lives at heights between 1,650 and 2,225 meters (about 5,400 to 7,300 feet). In Peru, it lives a bit higher, between 1,700 and 2,450 meters (about 5,600 to 8,000 feet).
How it Behaves
Hunting for Food
Like most owls, the cinnamon screech owl is active at night. This means it is a nocturnal animal. We don't know much about how it hunts or what it eats. However, we do know it eats large arthropods. These are creatures like insects and spiders. It probably eats small animals with backbones too.
Raising its Young
Scientists have not yet described the breeding season for this owl. We also don't know what its nest or eggs look like. It is believed that it nests in tree holes, just like other screech owls.
What it Sounds Like
The main song of the cinnamon screech owl is a series of flat hoots. This song is similar to the rufescent screech owl's call, but it is faster. When it is being aggressive, its song sounds like "pu-pu-pu-pu-pu pu pu pu pu pu". This call starts fast, then suddenly slows down, and its pitch gets higher.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the cinnamon screech owl as a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
However, this owl lives only in humid forests. This makes it vulnerable to habitat loss. Its home can be destroyed or broken into smaller pieces. This is a common problem for many forest animals.
