Photo: Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Santa Marta Screech Owl
Megascops gilesi
Santa Marta Screech Owl (Megascops gilesi) — Owls of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Santa Marta Screech Owl (Megascops gilesi) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 132 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Megascops
- Species gilesi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 132 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Santa Marta Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Santa Marta Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Santa Marta Screech Owl (Megascops gilesi) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA nw Santa Marta Mts. (ne Colombia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 132 g, with a wing length of about 16.3 cm and a tail of around 9.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4,489 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Santa Marta Screech Owl?
The Santa Marta Screech Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 132 g.
Where does the Santa Marta Screech Owl live?
The Santa Marta Screech Owl is found across South America with a range covering SA nw Santa Marta Mts. (ne Colombia), where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Santa Marta Screech Owl belong to?
The Santa Marta Screech Owl (Megascops gilesi) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Santa Marta Screech Owl eat?
The Santa Marta Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Santa Marta Screech Owl migrate?
The Santa Marta Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Santa Marta Screech Owl endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Santa Marta Screech Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Santa Marta 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 Santa Marta Screech Owl's range?
The Santa Marta Screech Owl has a mapped global range of about 4,489 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.