Whiskered screech owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whiskered screech owl |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Megascops
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| Species: |
trichopsis
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| Subspecies | |
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See text. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Otus trichopsis |
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The whiskered screech owl (Megascops trichopsis) is a small screech owl that lives in North and Central America. These owls are known for their unique calls and excellent hunting skills at night.
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About Whiskered Screech Owls
Whiskered screech owls come in two main colors: brown or dark grey. They have a round head with special feathers that look like ears, bright yellow eyes, and a yellowish beak. They look a lot like the western screech owl, but you can tell them apart because the whiskered screech owl has more stripes on its chest and is a bit smaller.
Where They Live
You can find whiskered screech owls from southeastern Arizona in the United States, all the way south through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and into north-central Nicaragua. They like to live in thick forests with conifer trees (like pine trees) or oak trees. You might also find them in coffee farms that are high up in the mountains. They usually live in higher places than the western screech owl.
What They Do: Behavior and Life Cycle
Hunting and Food
These owls are great hunters! They often wait quietly on a branch and then quickly fly down to catch their prey. They can even catch food while flying. Whiskered screech owls mostly eat small mammals and large insects. Their favorite meals include grasshoppers, beetles, and moths. They are most active at night or around sunset. They use their amazing hearing and excellent night vision to find their food in the dark.
Their Calls
The most common sound a whiskered screech owl makes is a series of about eight "boo" notes. These notes are spaced out evenly, and the sound gets a little higher in the middle before going a bit lower at the end.
Reproduction
Female whiskered screech owls usually lay 3 to 4 eggs in April or May. They often choose a tree hollow or an old hole made by a woodpecker for their nest. These nests are typically found about 5 to 7 meters (about 16 to 23 feet) above the ground.
Subspecies
There are three different types, or subspecies, of whiskered screech owls:
- Megascops trichopsis aspersus Brewster, 1888
- Megascops trichopsis mesamericanus (Van Rossem, 1932)
- Megascops trichopsis trichopsis (Wagler, 1832)
See also
In Spanish: Autillo bigotudo para niños
