Fun Tropical Screech-owl Facts For Kids

There are 25 species of a screech owls in the world. The tropical screech owl consists of nine recognized subspecies. The tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is a small gray-brown screech owl with short ear tufts raised during daytime. Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is found in savannas, grasslands, forests, and town parks habitat range in Southern Central America, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and other regions.

Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is known as an omnivore, however they predominantly consume a carnivorous diet and seldom feed on a plant-based diet. The tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is non-migratory and stays within its habitat range. They move to other regions of the world if they find severe weather or scarcity of food. Their distribution is classified as Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN). These owls are widely distributed throughout their range and are commonly seen.

For more relatable content, check out these whiskered treeswift facts and rufous owl facts for kids.

What type of animal is a tropical screech-owl?

Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is a type of owl that belongs to kingdom Animalia, and order Strigidae.

What class of animal does a tropical screech-owl belong to?

Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is a type of owl that belongs to the class Aves, family Strigidae, and genus Megascops.

How many tropical screech-owls are there in the world?

Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) exact population is not evaluated. Their distribution is considered stable throughout their range.

Where does a tropical screech-owl live?

Tropical screech owls live in trees, savannas, grasslands, forests, and town parks. They are found in Southern Central America, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina, and other regions. Tropical screech owl nest is usually in the cavity of a tree.

What is a tropical screech-owl's habitat?

Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) habitat constitutes trees, savannas, grasslands, forests, and town park. They are seen in Southern Central America, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina, and other regions. These bird species are found mostly found in a wide variety of habitats. The tropical screech owl range occurs mostly at an elevation of about 4921 ft (1500 m).

Who do tropical screech-owls live with?

Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) live with their mates mostly. Tropical screech owl mates are mostly monogamous similar to other owl species.

How long does a tropical screech-owl live?

The tropical screech owl's lifespan is 20 years. A barn owl is considered the oldest owl in the ever. The oldest known species existed from 20-25 million years old.

How do they reproduce?

Tropical screech owl reproduction is similar to other owl species. Breeding occurs from January to July in the northern hemisphere and from September to October in the southern hemisphere. These owl species have courtship rituals involving males singing through breeding season. Males usually invite nesting sites to females. Post mating the females lay 1-4 white eggs usually in a cavity without protection. They build nest in a cavities or in nest boxes. They may use woodpecker holes for nesting. Their incubation period lasts for a few weeks and females protect the eggs during this stage. Males may bring food to the nest. Tropical screech owl fledgling occurs by a month and then the young leave their nest.

What is their conservation status?

Tropical screech owl conservation status is Least concern as per the IUCN red list of threatened species. The tropical screech owl birth and death rate is varied since they are prone to major threats like car accidents and other such threats. The tropical screech owl birth rate is stable and their range map is available on the IUCN website. The range map helps search their habitat range.

What do tropical screech-owls look like?

The tropical screech owl is small in size and description. These owls have an overall gray-brown to rufous plumage with a lighter gray facial disk and yellow iris with small ear tufts. They have a greenish-gray bill with gray-brown toes and feet. Crown and underparts heavily streaked with a dark tail and flight feathers barred with light buff and brown color. The scapular has a dark-edged pale shot and a white line along each side above their wing. Their wing length is 5.74-7.08 in (146-180 mm). They have a distinctive appearance and can be identified with their yellow iris.

How cute are they?

The tropical screech owl is small and cute as per the description. It's difficult to spot these owls in other regions. They prefer living near wooded habitats. These owls are relatively easy to identify since they have distinct voices and their yellow iris.

How do they communicate?

The tropical screech owl call is loud. Tropical screech owl calls is a basic and short trill followed by two toots. These owls communicate different messages through various different songs and calls. Some songs include the 'gurrrrrrku-kuk' or the 'gurrrrrrku-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk' is song occurred when they are exited. The 'bububububububub' during courtship. If they are surprised or alarmed they utter 'kiah' or 'hahahahahaha'.

How big is a tropical screech-owl?

The tropical screech owl is 7.87-9.44 in (20-24 cm) in length which is three times bigger than an elf owl 4.72-5.51 in (12-14 cm).

How fast can a tropical screech-owl fly?

Tropical screech owl's exact flight speed is not known. The screech owl flight is relatively at five strokes per second. They are not migratory and seen in the same range for the most part and even through flight.

How much does a tropical screech-owl weigh?

Tropical screech owls weigh 0.21-0.35 lb (96-160 g). Their growth is dependent on their diet and habitat. Blakiston's fish owl is the heaviest owl in the ever.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male and female species are not addressed differently. They differ in reproductive functions but their overall external appearance is similar.

What would you call a baby tropical screech-owl?

Tropical screech owl eggs are called eggs initially once they hatch the baby tropical screech owl is called an owlet. Owlets or nestlings are dependent on their parents in the initial weeks of their life until they begin to fledge.

What do they eat?

The tropical screech owl eating occurs at different times of the day. They capture their prey on the ground. These owls are primarily omnivores however, they prefer a carnivorous diet in most instances. A carnivorous diet may include cricket, beetle, rat, katipo spider, and scorpions. They may generally consume small birds as well while feeding.

Are they dangerous?

Owls are majestic beings and it's generally best to observe them from a distance. They don't pose any specific threat to humans unless you are in their territory. Screech owls are known to attack humans. Owls have very few predators, however some predators who do pose threat to them include hawks and eagles.

Would they make a good pet?

No, these owls are innately wild birds and not ideal to be adopted. It's best to search and consider other sociable pet birds like parrots or parakeets who are generally adopted as pets. Owls are seldom seen near human settlements and if you wish to see such species you would have to visit designated regions.

Did you know...

The common screech owl and other screech owls usually build nests in woodpecker holes or in tree cavities. The nestlings stay in these nests until fledging is complete.

Owls serve as natural pest control for farmers. These natural pest controls search and feed on rodents as well as insects which may impact their population.

Birds of prey have the fastest growth rate. Within few weeks they grow up into fully functioning adults. Owls have one of the fastest growth rates.

Identification of bird species is simple with the 'merlin app' since it assists in the identification and search of bird species in North America as well as identification of birds around the globe including South America with more information related to such species.

Do tropical screech-owls eat rats or birds?

Tropical screech owls are primarily omnivorous, however they mostly prefer consuming a carnivorous diet and are seldom seen consuming plant-based foods. They consume rats as well as birds and also consume other kinds of food. They prefer eating insects over any other thing. They are quick in attack and have sharp eyesight and capture their prey on the ground. They pick up their prey by claws and the force with which they do the same itself threatens the prey.

Do tropical screech-owls attack humans?

Screech owls are aggressive in behavior some may describe them as violent species in behavior as well. A similar case is with a tropical screech owl. They are territorial beings and may attack humans if they sense any threat. If they sense any prey they are more prone to attack. There are a total of 19 species of owls in North America and 52 species in South America.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these flammulated owl facts and burrowing owl facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable brown hawk owl coloring pages.