Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Whiskered Screech Owl

Megascops trichopsis

The Whiskered Screech Owl, Megascops trichopsis, presents itself as a diminutive and enchanting owl, with adults displaying two color morphs: a rich brown or a dark grey plumage. Its round head is adorned with ear tufts, and it possesses striking yellow eyes paired with a yellowish bill. This species bears a resemblance to the Western Screech Owl, yet it can be distinguished by more pronounced barring on the breast and a marginally smaller stature, measuring between 6.3 to 7.9 inches in length with a wingspan of approximately 17.3 inches.

Identification Tips

When endeavoring to identify the Whiskered Screech Owl, look for the characteristic ear tufts and the heavy barring across the breast. The yellow eyes and bill are also key features. Size can be a subtle clue, as this species is slightly smaller than its close relative, the Western Screech Owl.

Habitat

The preferred habitats of the Whiskered Screech Owl are dense coniferous or oak woodlands, as well as coffee plantations. These environments typically exist at higher elevations than those favored by the Western Screech Owl.

Distribution

This owl's range is quite extensive, stretching from the southeasternmost reaches of Arizona in the United States, through Mexico, and further south into Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and as far as north central Nicaragua.

Behaviour

The Whiskered Screech Owl is a master of the night, perching silently before swooping down on unsuspecting prey or adeptly snatching insects mid-flight. Its diet is primarily composed of small mammals and large insects, with a particular fondness for grasshoppers, beetles, moths, katydids, and even the occasional scorpion.

Song & calls

The nocturnal serenade of this owl typically consists of a sequence of about eight "boo" notes, with a slight rise in pitch towards the middle and a gentle drop at each end.

Breeding

Come April or May, the Whiskered Screech Owl lays a clutch of 3 to 4 eggs. Nesting sites are often found within tree cavities or repurposed woodpecker holes, strategically placed 5 to 7 meters above the ground.

Similar Species

The Western Screech Owl is the species most commonly confused with the Whiskered Screech Owl due to their similar appearance. However, the Western Screech Owl lacks the heavy breast barring and is slightly larger in size.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Whiskered Screech Owl is quite varied, including small mammals and a range of insects. They are particularly adept at hunting grasshoppers, beetles, moths, katydids, and scorpions, using their keen senses to detect prey in the darkness.

Conservation status

The Whiskered Screech Owl is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, for now, this species does not face any immediate threat of extinction.

Whiskered Screech Owl Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Whiskered Screech Owls on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Jacques Broquard
Jacques Broquard
14 Oct 2024 - 12:20pm
United States

More Owls

A photo of a Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.