General

Pacific Screech-Owl: Small owl with mottled brown-gray upperparts, some white markings in wings, and fine streaks on gray-white underparts. Facial disk gray-buff with a limited, narrow black rim. Ear tufts are small. Eyes are yellow and bill is olive-yellow. Short, rounded wings and tail are barred with buff. Gray, feathered feet. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Pacific Screech-Owl: Found in the Chiapas region of southeast Mexico, range stretches south along west Central America to northwest Costa Rica. Habitat includes semi-open land, dry woodland, lakeside and second growth fields, swampy forests and mangrove edges.

Breeding and Nesting

Pacific Screech-Owl: Although little is known about the breeding biology of this species, it is assumed to be similar to the nesting habits of the Western Screech-Owl and other related screech-owl species. In these species, two to eight white eggs are laid in a cavity in a tree or cactus, usually 6 to 20 feet above the ground. Incubation is about 26 days and is done mostly by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Pacific Screech-Owl: This species feeds on insects and other arthropods, and on small vertebrates. It forages by perching at night, waiting for prey to appear on the ground, and swooping down to catch it with its talons.

Vocalization

Pacific Screech-Owl: Song is a series of short notes given in a series that rises in the middle then falls, "pu-pu-pu-PU-PU-pu-pu".

Similar Species

Pacific Screech-Owl: None in this range.