Whiskered screech-owl

Adults occur in 2 color morphs, in either brown or dark grey plumage. They have a round head with ear tufts, yellow eyes and a yellowish bill. The bird looks very similar to a Western Screech Owl, but has heavier barring on the breast, and is slightly smaller in size.

The Whiskered screech-owl is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

forests, the Whiskered Screech-Owl occurs in the U.S. only in the highlands of far southern Arizona and New Mexico. Like most owl species, its status and biology are only poorly known but it is thought to be under threat from logging in its Mexican and Central American range. It gets its name from the bristles on the ends of its facial feathers, which are longer than other screech owls. More

Whiskered Screech-OwlMegascops trichopsis Order STRIGIFORMES – Family STRIGIDAE Issue No. 507 Authors: Gehlbach, Frederick R., and Nancy Y. Gehlbach * Articles * Multimedia * References Courtesy Preview This Introductory article that you are viewing is a courtesy preview of the full life history account of this species. The remaining articles (Distribution, Habitat, Behavior, etc. More

the Southern Whiskered Screech-owl (Megascops trichopsis mesamericanus), is thus likely the result of strong genetic drift. More

The Whiskered Screech-Owl, Megascops trichopsis, is a small scops owl. Adults occur in 2 color morphs, in either brown or dark grey plumage. They have a round head with ear tufts, yellow eyes and a yellowish bill. The bird looks very similar to a Western Screech Owl, but has heavier barring on the breast, and is slightly smaller in size. Their breeding habitat is dense coniferous or oak woodlands, and coffee plantations usually occurring at higher elevations than Western Screech Owl. More

The Whiskered Screech-Owl is a small owl which looks much like the Western Screech Owl. The preferred breeding range of this bird includes dense coniferous and oak forests, as well as coffee plantations found at high elevations. This species is found in southeastern Arizona in the United States and north central Nicaragua. The Whiskered Screech-Owl sits on a perch and swoops down to catch prey at night. Typical diets consist of insects, mammals, grasshoppers, beetles and moths. More

Tucson, Alan and I encountered a little Whiskered Screech-Owl at its day roost. The owlet perched at the entrance to its roost cavity, comfortably soaking up the sunshine on that wintry day. A brief Morse code call and its yellowish bill confirmed its identity. Yesterday that image of the basking owl, shimmering in my awareness for the past year, finally made it to paper. Here's the beguiling little raptor, rendered in watercolor and gouache. More

Whiskered Screech-Owl: Resident in range, in the north of its range (Arizona), there may be some down slope movements in winter. Prefers montane habitats. Breeding and Nesting Whiskered Screech-Owl: Two to four white eggs are laid in a natural cavity or abandoned woodpecker hole. Female incubates for 21 to 30 days. Foraging and Feeding Whiskered Screech-Owl: Feeds on insects, spiders, and small mammals. More

Whiskered Screech-Owl Otus trichopsis = enlarge + Whiskered Screech-Owl, adult perched More

The Whiskered Screech-Owl (Otus trichopis) is essentially a Mexican species which occurs in the U.S. only in s.e. Arizona. It can be fairly common in some mountain ranges in Mexico and the species ranges as far south as El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It's "morse code" song is distinctly different from the vocalizations of the similar sized Western Screech-Owl. The shots here were taken in April, 2003, in Madera Canyon, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona. More

Whiskered Screech-Owl, Otus trichopsis, has been recorded in the extreme southwestern corner of New Mexico, but otherwise in the states is found only in the mountain ranges of southern Arizona, with its range extending southward, on both slopes of Sonora, through Mexico to central Nicaragua. As recently as the early '80s, birding literature indicated this species withdrew southward from its Arizona breeding territory in the winter, but it is now known to be a permanent resident. More

Whiskered Screech-Owl is a species of the Mexican and Central American highlands, with a limited population extending into the southwestern United States. The small New Mexico population is limited to dense oak and pine-oak woodlands in a few canyon bottoms and slopes of the Peloncillo Mountains. More

This Whiskered Screech-Owl was photographed at Madera Canyon, Arizona. Photo taken (by flashlight!) with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Ektachrome 200 film. More

The Whiskered Screech-Owl is similar to the Western Screech-Owl although is slightly smaller and has noticeable "whiskers". However, they can only be reliably distinguished in the field by their calls. Here you will find photos, recordings and a brief field notes section to help identify and enjoy this beautiful owl. A more in depth write up and range map can be found in its natural history page (the Biology link). More

Whiskered Screech-Owl - Megascops (Otus) trichopsis Breeding Range Map Other Common Names: Arizona Whiskered Owl; Spotted Screech-Owl; Whiskered Owl. Subspecies: There are three accepted races of Whiskered Screech-Owl in North and Central America. Only one of these races has a range crossing into North America. Six additional races are described but not yet recognized and subsequently included within the following. M. t. aspersus is found from S. E. Arizona and S. W. More

differences between this and Whiskered Screech-Owl including talon size, cross-barring on the belly, bill color, and appearance of facial bristles. Of course, the easiest way to tell the two apart is by voice- they have distinctly different calls. Western Screech-Owl, Miller Canyon, Arizona, 3/03. Western Screech-owl, Mesa County, Colorado. Western Screech-owl, Mesa County, Colorado. Eastern Screech-Owl, Yuma County, Colorado, 12/05. More