The rufescent screech owl (''Megascops ingens'') is a species of

owl Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers a ...

in the family

Strigidae The true owls or typical owls (family Strigidae) are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the barn owls (Tytonidae). This large family comprises 230 living or recently extinct species in 24 genera. The typical owl ...

. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia,

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

, and

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

Taxonomy and systematics

The rufescent screech owl has three subspecies, the nominate ''M. i. ingens'', ''M. i. venezuelanus'', and ''M. i. columbianus''. The last was formerly considered a distinct species, "Colombian screech owl". Two other forms that had previously been described as subspecies are now treated as individual variations of the nominate.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 23 May 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved May 24, 2021Marín-Gómez, O. H., D. W. Holt, R. Berkley, C. Deppe, P. L. Enríquez, J. L. Petersen, J. L. Rangel Salazar, K. P. Segars, K. L. Wood, and J. S. Marks (2020). Rufescent Screech-Owl (''Megascops ingens''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rufsco1.01 retrieved August 6, 2021

Description

The rufescent screech owl is one of the larger species of its genus, similar in size to the

white-throated screech owl The white-throated screech owl (''Megascops albogularis'') is a small owl found in the Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Taxonomy and systematics The white-throated screech owl was described by the American ornithologis ...

(''M. albogularis''). Its overall length is and weight in males is and in females . The nominate subspecies is sandy brown above with darker

vermiculation Vermiculation is a surface pattern of dense but irregular lines, so called from the Latin ''vermiculus'' meaning "little worm" because the shapes resemble worms, worm-casts, or worm tracks in mud or wet sand. The word may be used in a number of ...

. Its

facial disc In ornithology, the facial disc is the concave collection of feathers on the face of some birds—most notably owls—surrounding the eyes. The concavity of the facial disc forms a circular paraboloid that collects sound waves and directs those ...

is sandy brown, without a distinct rim. The flight feathers are barred cinnamon and dusky and the tail is cinnamon with darker brown bars. The hind crown has buffy-whitish border. It has honey brown eyes and small ear tufts. The tarsi are feathered to the base of the toes. ''M. i. venezuelanus'' is slightly smaller and paler than the nominate. ''M. columbianus'' is also smaller than the nominate and its tarsi are not fully feathered.

Distribution and habitat

The nominate subspecies of rufescent screech owl is found on the eastern slope of the Andes from southwestern Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to central Bolivia. In elevation it ranges from in Ecuador, from in Peru, and from in Bolivia. ''M. i. venezuelanus'' is found in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela; its elevational range has not been determined. ''M. columbianus'' is found on the western slope of the Andes from west central Colombia into northwestern Ecuador. In Colombia it ranges in elevation from and in Ecuador . The rufescent screech owl inhabits a wide variety of forest types including the interior and edges of mature evergreen and secondary forest and pastures with scattered trees. It appears to accept fragmented habitats.

Behavior

Feeding

The rufescent screech owl is nocturnal, like most others of its genus. Its hunting techniques have not been documented. Its diet is assumed to be larger insects and spiders, and at least one small

vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () (chordates with backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, with c ...

has been noted as prey.

Breeding

The rufescent screech owl's breeding phenology is essentially undocumented. In western Colombia it is believed to nest between December and March. Though its nest and eggs have not been described, it is assumed to nest in a tree cavity like others of its genus.

Vocalization

The rufescent screech owl's primary (territorial) song is "a series of flute-like, staccato notes, which begins softly on a lower pitch, shortly rising to a higher, steadily maintained pitch". A second song, believed to be used in courtship, is "a 2-3 weak introductory notes followed by a short series of hoots all on the same pitch". Both sexes sing both songs, though the females' are higher pitched.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the rufescent screech owl as being of Least Concern. However, its population is unknown and believed to be decreasing. It is "vulnerable to deforestation, which is advancing throughout its range".