Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Middle American Screech Owl
Megascops guatemalae
Middle American Screech Owl (Megascops guatemalae) — Owls of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Middle American Screech Owl (Megascops guatemalae) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 118 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Megascops
- Species guatemalae
Where it lives
Northwestern, northeastern Mexico to Costa Rica and western Panama
Quick facts
- Weight
- 118 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Middle American 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 Middle American Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Middle American Screech Owl (Megascops guatemalae) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA nw, ne Mexico to Costa Rica and w Panama.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 118 g, with a wing length of about 15.7 cm and a tail of around 7.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 661,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle American Screech Owl?
The Middle American Screech Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 118 g.
Where does the Middle American Screech Owl live?
The Middle American Screech Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA nw, ne Mexico to Costa Rica and w Panama, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Middle American Screech Owl belong to?
The Middle American Screech Owl (Megascops guatemalae) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Middle American Screech Owl eat?
The Middle American Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Middle American Screech Owl migrate?
The Middle American Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Middle American Screech Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Middle American Screech Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Middle American Screech Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Middle American Screech Owl's range?
The Middle American Screech Owl has a mapped global range of about 661,000 km².
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.