<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='363205'>Long-tufted Screech-Owl

En bref

Nocturne

• Scientific Name: Megascops sanctaecatarinae
• Spanish Name: Autillo de Santa Catarina
• Family: Strigidae
• Known Nicknames: Santa Catarina Screech-Owl
• Average Length: 25–29 cm / 9.8–11.4 in
• Average Weight: 155–223 g / 5.5–7.9 oz
• Wingspan: 55–65 cm / 22–26 in
• Key Feature: Unusually long, prominent ear tufts and a well-defined facial disc with a dark border
• Primary Diet: Carnivore (primarily insects and small vertebrates)
• Range: Southeastern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay
• Habitat: Araucaria moist forests, forest edges, semi-open woodlands, and suburban areas
• Social Structure: Solitary or monogamous pairs
• Nesting/Breeding: Tree cavities and hollows
• Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
• Évolution démographique : Stable

The Long-tufted Screech-Owl (*Megascops sanctaecatarinae*) is an enchanting, medium-sized predator native to the humid forests and highland borders of southern South America. Its most defining and unique feature is its exceptionally long, feather-like ear-tufts, which rise dramatically when the bird is alarmed or blending into its surroundings. Cloaked in intricately patterned plumage of rich rufous, grey, and deep brown, this owl possesses superb camouflage that perfectly mimics tree bark, accented by a pale facial disc with a dark border and large, piercing amber-yellow eyes. A master of the night, this elusive raptor is also distinguished by its rapid, bubbling trill—a hauntingly beautiful song used to defend its territory in the dense canopy.

Faits amusants

Despite its small size, this owl is a master of disguise; when threatened, it stretches its body into a stiff, elongated pose and squint-closes its yellow eyes to perfectly mimic a broken tree branch. Its signature "long tufts" are not ears at all, but rather highly mobile feathers that it raises or lowers like expressive eyebrows to communicate with mates or blend into mossy bark. Furthermore, instead of a traditional hoot, this species boasts a quirky, motor-like vocalization—a rapid, bubbling purr that sounds remarkably like a tiny, idling engine echoing through the South American forests.

Habitats et répartition

Its geographical range is restricted to southeastern South America, spanning from southeastern Brazil—specifically from the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro south to Rio Grande do Sul—into northeastern Argentina, primarily in the Misiones province, and parts of eastern Paraguay. Within this range, it inhabits a variety of semi-open environments, including forest edges, secondary growth woodlands, and agricultural areas with scattered mature trees. It is particularly associated with *Araucaria* (Parana pine) moist forests and can adapt well to human-modified landscapes such as suburban parks and gardens, while generally avoiding the deep, unbroken interior of primary rainforests.

Comportements & Reproduction

This nocturnal and highly territorial owl typically maintains a solitary lifestyle or lives in monogamous pairs. It defends its home range and communicates with its mate through a series of distinctive, rapid, purring trills, which are most frequently heard at dusk and dawn. During the day, it roosts in dense foliage or tree cavities, relying on its highly cryptic, bark-like plumage to blend into its environment and avoid detection by predators and mobbing songbirds. The breeding season occurs during the spring and early summer, typically running from August to December. Monogamous pairs utilize natural tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes as nesting sites, making no effort to add nesting material. The female lays a clutch of two to three eggs, which she incubates while the male territory-holder hunts and delivers food to the nest. Once the eggs hatch, both parents cooperate in feeding the chicks a diet of insects and small vertebrates until the young fledge and gradually achieve independence.

Alimentation

The diet of the Long-tufted Screech-Owl (*Megascops sanctaecatarinae*) consists primarily of large insects and small vertebrates, showcasing its role as an opportunistic nocturnal predator. Its main prey includes orthopterans like crickets and grasshoppers, alongside beetles, spiders, and other invertebrates. Interestingly, studies of their stomach contents reveal a highly adaptable feeding strategy, as they frequently supplement this insect-heavy diet with small mammals—particularly rodents—as well as small birds and frogs. This owl utilizes a perch-and-pounce hunting method to seize its prey from the ground, demonstrating a dietary flexibility that allows it to thrive on a diverse range of forest-dwelling organisms depending on seasonal availability.

Couleurs

The Long-tufted Screech-Owl features highly effective bark-mimicking camouflage in grayish-brown or rufous morphs, intricately mottled with black, buff, and white. Its underparts are marked by bold, dark vertical streaks crossed with fine horizontal barring, while its upperparts display complex marbled patterns. A prominent dark-bordered facial disc frames striking yellow eyes, complemented by exceptionally long, patterned ear tufts that disrupt its outline against forest foliage.