Black-capped Screech Owl (Megascops atricapilla)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Black-capped Screech Owl

Megascops atricapilla (Temminck, 1822)

22–23 cmLength119 gWeight

The black-capped screech owl (Megascops atricapilla), or variable screech owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae.

Busiest months: October · Most records: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Black-capped Screech Owl has been recorded at 52 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 3 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Peruíbe – GuaraúBrazil154 records
  2. PE IntervalesBrazil133 records
  3. Porto Seguro – RPPN Estação VeracelBrazil107 records
More places
  1. Legado das ÁguasBrazil81 records
  2. PN Iguazú – Ruta 101Argentina76 records
  3. Santo André – Estrada do TaquarussuBrazil75 records
  4. Surucuá Reserva & EcolodgeArgentina73 records
  5. Legado das Águas – SedeBrazil72 records
  6. Área do Projeto DacnisBrazil67 records
  7. Linhares – Reserva Natural da Vale do Rio DoceBrazil64 records

Countries and regions with the most records

BrazilArgentinaParaguay

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black-capped screech owl (Megascops atricapilla), or variable screech owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black-capped Screech Owl?

The Black-capped Screech Owl is about 22–23 cm long and weighs around 119 g.

Where does the Black-capped Screech Owl live?

Its breeding range: South America: eastern Paraguay and southeastern Brazil. It is most often recorded in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

When is the best time to see the Black-capped Screech Owl?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Black-capped Screech Owl endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-capped Screech Owl as Least Concern.

What does the Black-capped Screech Owl eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Black-capped Screech Owl in?

It belongs to the family Owls (Strigidae), order Strigiformes.

At a glance

Length
22–23 cm
Weight
119 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
171 mm
Tail
96 mm
Bill
22 mm
Tarsus
34 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: eastern Paraguay and southeastern Brazil

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Owls Strigidae
Genus
Megascops

Other birds in the genus Megascops

Whiskered Screech OwlWhiskered Screech OwlMegascops trichopsisBare-shanked Screech OwlBare-shanked Screech OwlMegascops clarkiiWhite-throated Screech OwlWhite-throated Screech OwlMegascops albogularisTropical Screech OwlTropical Screech OwlMegascops cholibaBearded Screech OwlBearded Screech OwlMegascops barbarusPacific Screech OwlPacific Screech OwlMegascops cooperiWestern Screech OwlWestern Screech OwlMegascops kennicottiiEastern Screech OwlEastern Screech OwlMegascops asioBalsas Screech OwlBalsas Screech OwlMegascops seductusMiddle American Screech OwlMiddle American Screech OwlMegascops guatemalaeKoepcke's Screech OwlKoepcke's Screech OwlMegascops koepckeaeRufescent Screech OwlRufescent Screech OwlMegascops ingens
Black-capped Screech Owl

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Gabriel Bonfa. ↗

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