Pacific Screech Owl

Mangrove Screech Owl ( Megascops cooperi )

The mangrove Screech Owl ( Megascops cooperi ), also referred to as Mangroveneule, is a species of owl from the kind of screech owls. It comes in the two subspecies Megacops cooperi cooperi cooperi chiapensis and Megascops ago in Mexico and Costa Rica.

Description

The mangrove Screech reaches a length of 25.5 centimeters. The weight is 145-170 grams. The face veil is light gray with pale dark circles, which are bordered by white and dark brown feathers. The skull shows dark shaft markings. The top is tan - gray with a fine dark Kritzelung and black shaft stripes. White swab on the shoulders form a bright line. The wing covers are lined with whitish. The hand and arm swing are banded. The underside is off-white with a brown Kritzelung very narrow and long black shaft stripes. The barrel is fully feathered. The toes are bristly. The iris is yellow. The beak is greenish with a creamy yellow tip. The young birds are gray beige on top and whitish on the underside. The chest is intense tan with a dark drawing.

Voice

The song consists of up to 15 short notes, which are produced in rapid series, rise in the middle of the pitch and then fall again. Sometimes short trill with u -pu -pu -pu -pu -pu -pu -pu or prr - PU - PU - PU -pu -pu and Ruflaute can be heard from a single deep coarse woof or whuh.

Occurrence and habitat

The nominate Megascops cooperi cooperi comes in southern Chiapas in southeastern Mexico before and in Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica. The breed Megascops cooperi chiapensis is native to the Mexican state of Chiapas. The mangrove Screech Owl inhabits dry woodlands and semi- open country with scattered trees, shrubs, palms, Pachycereus pringlei and other cacti. Furthermore, it is found in swamp forests and at the edges of mangrove forests from sea level to an altitude of 1000 meters.

Way of life

The mangrove Screech Owl feeds on large insects, including beetles, moths and grasshoppers and scorpions and small rodents. The breeding season usually begins in March during the dry period. The nest is built in tree cavities or in old woodpecker holes. The nest consists of three to five eggs. The young birds remain until the beginning of the rainy season together with the parents.

Status

The mangrove Screech is not compromised. In Costa Rica, she has lived in several protected areas, including Santa Rosa, Palo Verde and in the Barra Honda National Park.