Rufescent screech owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rufescent screech owl |
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| Conservation status | |
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Megascops
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| Species: |
ingens
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| Synonyms | |
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Otus ingens (Salvin, 1897) |
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The rufescent screech owl (Megascops ingens) is a type of owl that belongs to the owl family called Strigidae. You can find this owl in several South American countries, including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
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About Rufescent Screech Owls
What's in a Name?
The rufescent screech owl has three main groups, called subspecies. Think of subspecies as slightly different versions of the same animal that live in different places. These are M. i. ingens, M. i. venezuelanus, and M. i. columbianus. One of these, M. i. columbianus, was once thought to be its own separate species, but now scientists know it's a subspecies of the rufescent screech owl.
How to Spot a Rufescent Screech Owl
This owl is one of the bigger screech owls. It's about 25 to 28 centimeters (10 to 11 inches) long. Males usually weigh between 134 and 180 grams (4.7 to 6.3 ounces), while females are a bit heavier, weighing 140 to 223 grams (4.9 to 7.9 ounces).
The main type of rufescent screech owl is sandy brown on top. It has darker wavy lines on its feathers. Its face is also sandy brown, and its flight feathers (the long feathers on its wings) have cinnamon and dark stripes. Its tail is cinnamon with dark brown stripes. This owl has honey-brown eyes and small ear tufts, which are like little feather horns on its head. Its legs are covered in feathers all the way down to its toes.
The other subspecies, M. i. venezuelanus, is a bit smaller and lighter in color. The M. columbianus subspecies is also smaller, and its legs aren't fully feathered.
Where Do They Live?
The main group of rufescent screech owls lives on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. This area stretches from southwestern Colombia, through Ecuador and Peru, all the way to central Bolivia. They usually live in places that are high up, like mountainsides.
The M. i. venezuelanus subspecies lives in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. The M. columbianus subspecies lives on the western side of the Andes, from west-central Colombia into northwestern Ecuador.
These owls like many kinds of forests. They can be found deep inside old forests, at the edges of forests, and even in grassy areas with scattered trees. They seem to be able to live in places where the forest is broken up into smaller pieces.
Owl Behavior
What Do They Eat?
Like most screech owls, the rufescent screech owl is active at night. This means they hunt for food when it's dark. Scientists haven't seen exactly how they hunt, but they believe these owls mostly eat large insects and spiders. They have also been known to eat small animals with backbones, like tiny mammals or birds.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Not much is known about how rufescent screech owls raise their young. In western Colombia, people think they might build nests between December and March. Even though their nests and eggs haven't been fully described, it's believed they nest in holes in trees, just like other screech owls.
What Sounds Do They Make?
The main song of the rufescent screech owl sounds like a series of flute-like, short notes. It starts softly and low, then quickly gets higher and stays at that pitch.
They also have a second song, which scientists think they use to find a mate. This song starts with two or three quiet notes, followed by a short series of hoots, all at the same pitch. Both male and female owls sing these songs, but the female's songs are higher pitched.
Owl Status
Is the Rufescent Screech Owl Safe?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the rufescent screech owl is a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. However, we don't know exactly how many of these owls there are, and their numbers are thought to be going down. They are at risk because of deforestation, which is when forests are cut down. This is happening in many places where they live.
