Formerly Otus nudipes
Calls - Megascops nudipes
First classified by French naturalist François Marie Daudin in 1800, this
bird is sometimes known as the "Cuckoo Bird" in the Virgin Islands.
Description: Puerto Rican Screech Owls come in a
greyish-brown and rufescent morph. They are nocturnal birds, and have a rounded head with
no ear-tufts. The facial disk is indistinct, the eyes are brownish and the beak
greenish-yellow. The eyebrows are lighter than the rest of their face.
Upper parts are spotted, slightly barred and streaked darker. Underparts are lighter then
upper parts, becoming whiter towards the belly - individual feathers having dark
shaft-streaks and cross-bars. The upper breast has many wavy, brown markings.
Flight and tail feathers are barred dark and light. Only the upper part of the legs is
feathered.
Size: Length 20-22cm (7.9-8.7") Weight 103-154g (3.6-5.4oz)
Habits: A nocturnal bird, hiding in dense foliage, thickets or caves during the day. Calls in the early morning and evening.
Voice: The male's main call is a short guttural
quavering trill of 3-5 seconds duration. He also has another
shorter trill which begins softly and rises in pitch and volume to a maximum and quickly
fades away. The female's call is similar, but higher in pitch. The contact call is
believed to be a soft, cackling gu-gu. They also make a loud coo-coo
call, which is how it gets the name of "Cuckoo Bird" in the Virgin Islands.
Hunting & Food: These owls eat mainly insects and
occasionally small mammals.
Breeding: Breeding season is believed to be April to June. They
generally nest in tree hollows and cliff crevices. The female lays 2-3 white eggs, and is
fed by her mate as she incubates them.
Mortality: No current information on longevity. Egg predation
by Pearly-eyed Thrashers (Margarops fuscatus) have been a problem for these owls.
Habitat: Dense Woodland, thickets and caves.
Distribution: Puerto Rico, Isla de Vieques, Isla de Culebra,
and adjacent Virgin Islands.
Distribution of Megascops nudipes
Status: Common on Puerto Rico, critically endangered on the Virgin Islands.
Original Description: Daudin, Francois Marie. 1800. Traité élémentaire et complet d'Ornithologie, ou Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, 2, p. 199.
Subspecies:
M. n. nudipes,
M. n. newtoni
References:
Page Information:
Page compiled by Deane P. Lewis.
OwlPages.com Owl Species ID: 040.250.000 - Page last updated 2006-12-28
Typical Call
