Choco Screech Owl
Megascops centralis
Choco Screech Owl (Megascops centralis) — Owls of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Choco Screech Owl (Megascops centralis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 118 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Megascops
- Species centralis
Where it lives
Canal Zone (Panama) south to western Ecuador (nearly to northwestern Peru) and eastern at least to the Cauca and Magdalena Valleys of Colombia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 118 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Choco Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Choco Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Choco Screech Owl (Megascops centralis) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Canal Zone (Panama) s to w Ecuador (nearly to nw Peru) and e at least to the Cauca and Magdalena Valleys of Colombia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 118 g, with a wing length of about 16.7 cm and a tail of around 7.7 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Choco Screech Owl?
The Choco Screech Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 118 g.
Where does the Choco Screech Owl live?
The Choco Screech Owl is found across South America with a range covering SA Canal Zone (Panama) s to w Ecuador (nearly to nw Peru) and e at least to the Cauca and Magdalena Valleys of Colombia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Choco Screech Owl belong to?
The Choco Screech Owl (Megascops centralis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Choco Screech Owl eat?
The Choco Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Choco Screech Owl migrate?
The Choco Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Choco Screech Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Choco Screech Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.