Photo: Arango, Alvaro / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
White-throated Screech Owl
Megascops albogularis
White-throated Screech Owl (Megascops albogularis) — Owls of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-throated Screech Owl (Megascops albogularis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 159 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 albogularis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 159 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-throated 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 White-throated Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-throated Screech Owl (Megascops albogularis) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Venezuela to Bolivia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 159 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 11.1 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 245,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-throated Screech Owl?
The White-throated Screech Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 159 g.
Where does the White-throated Screech Owl live?
The White-throated Screech Owl is found across South America with a range covering SA Venezuela to Bolivia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-throated Screech Owl belong to?
The White-throated Screech Owl (Megascops albogularis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the White-throated Screech Owl eat?
The White-throated Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-throated Screech Owl migrate?
The White-throated Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-throated 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 White-throated Screech Owl make?
1 real field recording of the White-throated Screech Owl can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-throated Screech Owl's range?
The White-throated Screech Owl has a mapped global range of about 245,000 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.