Megascops marshalli

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Ordo: Strigiformes

Familia: Strigidae
Subfamilia: Striginae
Genus: Megascops
Species: Megascops marshalli
Name

Megascops marshalli (Weske & Terborgh, 1981)
Synonyms

Otus marshalli (protonym)
Megascops huberi
Otus huberi

References

The Auk 98 p. 1-7
Vernacular names
Deutsch: Nebelwald-Kreischeule
English: Cloud-forest Screech-owl
español: Autillo de Marshall
suomi: Pilvimetsäpöllönen
français: Petit-duc de Marshall
Nederlands: Bosschreeuwuil
svenska: Molnskogsskrikuv

The cloud-forest screech owl (Megascops marshalli) is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

The cloud-forest screech owl is monotypic. Its nearest relatives are the cinnamon screech owl (Megascops petersoni) and Yungas screech owl (M. hoyi) but their exact relationship has not been settled.[4][5][6] The species' specific epithet commemorates Joe T. Marshall, "the modern-day student of nightbirds".[6]
Description

The cloud-forest screech owl is 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in) long; a male and a female weighed 105 g (3.7 oz) and 115 g (4.1 oz) respectively. It is among the smallest screech owls. It has a rufous facial disc with black edges on the sides, white brows over dark brown eyes, and short "ear" tufts. Its crown and upperparts are a rich reddish brown with blackish mottling and a buffy nuchal "collar". The folded wing shows a line of white spots and the tail is barred. Its breast is rufous with dark streaks and thin vermiculations. Its belly is off-white with dark streaks and thin barring.[6]
Distribution and habitat

The cloud-forest screech owl was originally thought to be confined to south and central Peru, in the Departments of Pasco, Cuzco, and Puno. Since 2005 it has been recorded in northern Bolivia as well. It inhabits cloud forest, a humid, mossy landscape with epiphytes, ferns, and a dense understory. In elevation it ranges at least from 1,900 to 2,600 m (6,200 to 8,500 ft) and possibly higher.[6]
Behavior
Feeding

The cloud-forest screech owl forages in the canopy; it is believed to be mostly insectivorous.[6]
Breeding

Very little is known about the cloud-forest screech-owls breeding phenology. It appears to breed between late June and August and is assumed to nest in tree cavities like others of its genus.[6]
Vocalization

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to cloud-forest screech owl on xeno-canto

The cloud-forest screech owl's song is "a continuous series of monotonic hoots" whose intensity increases and then ends abruptly. It also occasionally utters a "trill-like short song".[6]
Status

The IUCN has assessed the cloud-forest screech owl as being Near Threatened. It is "believed to have a very small range and is therefore highly susceptible to any future threats to its habitat."[1]
References

BirdLife International (2016). "Cloudforest Screech-owlMegascops marshalli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
"Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 21 June 2021. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved June 24, 2021
Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 23 May 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved May 24, 2021
Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.2)". Retrieved July 14, 2021.
Holt, D. W., R. Berkley, C. Deppe, P. L. Enríquez, J. L. Petersen, J. L. Rangel Salazar, K. P. Segars, K. L. Wood, and J. S. Marks (2020). Cloud-forest Screech-Owl (Megascops marshalli), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.clfsco1.01 retrieved August 7, 2021