Andean screech owl

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Andean screech owl
Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Owls (Strigiformes)
Family : Real owls (Strigidae)
Genre : Screech owls ( megascops )
Type : Andean screech owl
Scientific name
Megascops koepckeae
( Hekstra , 1982)

The Andean Screech Owl or Koepcke Screech Owl ( Megascops koepckeae ) is a species from the family of real owls. It occurs exclusively in South America. It bears its name in honor of the ornithologist Maria Koepcke , who she observed for the first time in the Cordilleras and who initially considered it a subspecies of the Peruvian screech owl . After the death of Maria Koepcke in a plane crash, the species was first described by the ornithologist Gerrit Paulus Hekstra as the breed of the Choliba screech owl , which at that time was still assigned to the genus of the scops owls . In the meantime, the taxonomic classification has been revised and the Andean screech owl is considered an independent species within the genus of the screech owls.

Appearance

With a body size of about 24 centimeters, the Koepcke screech owl is a medium-sized species within its genus. It has short but conspicuous feather ears . The plumage is relatively dark. The underside of the body has noticeable vertical stripes. The eyes are yellow.

Within its area of ​​distribution, the Andean Screech Owl is to be confused with the Peru Screech Owl, which also has yellow eyes, but is smaller. The Tumbes screech owl is significantly smaller and the white-throated screech owl is noticeably larger and has no feather ears.

distribution and habitat

The distribution area of ​​the Andean screech owl is not contiguous. It is widespread in the Andes from northwest to southwest Peru, occurs south of Lima and in a mountain area in the southern climate. It is not yet known whether the screech owl is a stationary bird or a migratory bird. Their habitat are dry forest areas on the Andean slopes. Their height distribution ranges from 2,000 meters above sea level to over 2,500 meters above sea level. The range of the Koepcke screech owl largely overlaps with that of the Peruvian pygmy owl .

Way of life

The Andean screech owl is a nocturnal species of owl that transmits in trees or bushes with dense foliage. Their diet is likely to consist predominantly of insects. The relatively small claws are an indication of this assumption. Nothing is known about reproductive biology.

Subspecies

According to IOC World Bird List 3.3. two subspecies are currently known:

supporting documents

Single receipts

  1. ↑ König et al., P. 291
  2. ↑ König et al., P. 292
  3. ^ IOC World Bird List 3.3

literature

  • Claus König , Friedhelm Weick: Owls of the World . Christopher Helm, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2 .
  • Jon Fjeldså , Jan Baiker, Gunnar Engblom, Irma Franke, David Geale, Niels Kaare Krabbe , Daniel F. Lane, Miguel Lezama, Fabrice Schmitt, Robert SR Williams, Joaquín Ugarte-Núñez, Virgilio Yábar & Ramiro Yábar: Reappraisal of Koepcke's Screech Owl Megascops koepckeae and description of a new subspecies . In: Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club . tape 132 , no. 3 , 2012, p. 180–193 ( online [PDF; 1,2 MB ; accessed on April 13, 2013]).

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