Yungas Screech Owl

The Yungas screech owl (''Megascops hoyi''), also known as montane forest screech-owl and Hoy's screech owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.Holt, D. W., 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). Montane Forest Screech-Owl (''Megascops hoyi''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.mofsco1.01 retrieved August 7, 2021.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Yungas screech owl is monotypic. It and the current black-capped screech owl and long-tufted screech owl have sometimes been considered conspecific under the name "long-tufted screech owl" but with the black-capped screech owl's binomial, ''Megascops atricapilla''. However, vocal and DNA evidence refute that treatment.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, 2021 The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) uses the name "Yungas screech owl" but notes that the English name is "unsettled". The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS/SACC), the Clements taxonomy, and BirdLife International's ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' use the English name "montane forest screech-owl''.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved August 15, 2019HBW and BirdLife International (2020) ''Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world'' Version 5. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v5_Dec20.zip xls zipped 1 MBretrieved May 27, 2021

Description

The Yungas screech owl is long and weighs . It occurs in brown, gray, and rufous morphs. It has a gray-brown facial disc, white brows over bright yellow eyes, and small "ear" tufts. Its upperparts are overall brown, gray-tinged in the gray morph and rusty in the rufous morph. The upperparts have dark vermiculation and streaks. The closed wing shows a row of large white spots. The tail has light brown stripes and vermiculation. Its underparts are light gray to gray-brown with an ochre wash; the breast and flanks have prominent black streaks.

Distribution and habitat

The Yungas screech owl is found from south-central Bolivia's Cochabamba Department south into northwestern Argentina as far as Tucumán Province and possibly further to Catamarca Province. It inhabits moist montane forest and cloud forest characterized by tall trees and epiphytes. In elevation it generally ranges from but locally is found as high as . Though the species is mostly sedentary, birds nesting in the higher elevations are thought to move lower in winter.

Behavior

Feeding

The Yungas screech owl forages on and near the ground, along forest edges, and in the forest's upper canopy. Its diet is thought to be mostly insects and spiders but some small vertebrates are also taken.

Breeding

The Yungas screech owl probably lays its eggs at the beginning of the rainy season, in September and October. It appears to nest mostly in tree cavities such as old woodpecker holes.

Vocalization

Pairs of Yungas screech owls duet, a primary song that "begins softly, gradually swells into rapid staccato of 'u' notes , and tapers off at heend." The female's voice is higher pitched. A secondary song is similar but shorter.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the Yungas screech owl as being of Least Concern. It is "not uncommon locally" and "is to some extent protected by the inaccessibility of parts of its range."

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q820438

owl, screech, Yungas
Birds of the Southern Andean Yungas
Yungas screech owl
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot