Colours
Distinguishing features
Females are larger than males and Northern populations are notably larger than Southern races. Adults are larger than Whiskered Screech Owls, with larger feet and a more-streaked plumage pattern.
There are several morphs: brown Pacific, grey Pacific, Great Plains, Mojave, and Mexican. All have either brown or dark gray plumage with streaking on the underparts. There is no red morph.
They have a round head with ear tufts, yellow eyes and a yellowish bill. Their appearance is quite similar to whiskered and Eastern Screech Owls, so it's best to identify them by their calls. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 26 cm and averaging 22 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Up to 65 cm and averaging 55 cm
Synonyms
Distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
The western screech owl is native to Canada, United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.
Its habitat includes temperate forests, subtropical and tropical montane forests, shrubland, desert, rural fields and even suburban parks and gardens. (Wikipedia)
Audio recordings
This is the "secondary song" (monotone trill, with a break near the beginning)
© Ted Floyd
(source)
