Megascops atricapilla
The Black-capped Screech Owl (Megascops atricapilla) is a strikingly marked nocturnal raptor endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern South America, renowned for its distinctive black cap, which gives the species its common name. Measuring approximately 23-24 cm (9-9.5 inches) in length with a weight typically ranging from 150-180 grams (5.3-6.3 oz), this small owl showcases a finely vermiculated grey-brown plumage, streaked underparts, bright yellow irises, and prominent ear tufts. Its...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests, favoring dense broadleaf woodlands and mature secondary growth up to elevations of about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet).
Their diet primarily consists of large insects such as moths, beetles, and crickets, supplemented with spiders, scorpions, small mammals like rodents, small birds, frogs, and lizards, which they capture by pouncing from a perch.
The Black-capped Screech Owl is strictly nocturnal, spending its days roosting quietly in dense foliage, often close to the tree trunk, or inside tree cavities, where its cryptic plumage provides excellent camouflage. At night, it becomes an active hunter, employing a sit-and-wait foraging strate...
The Black-capped Screech Owl (Megascops atricapilla) has a restricted but stable range primarily within the Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern South America. Its distribution extends across southeastern Brazil, encompassing states such as Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo...
Least Concern
- The Black-capped Screech Owl's distinctive black cap is a unique field mark among its Megascops relatives, making it relatively easy to identify by sight alone in its range. - Despite its small size, it is a formidable nocturnal predator, capable of taking prey nearly its own size, including sm...