An adult Bare-shanked Screech-Owl was identified by its deep, whistled “huu-huu-huu” at the end of the day. The next morning, an adult female was flying while a male was calling in close trees. A moment later, the female (identified by her higher-pitched call) flew to a nest placed in a live oak. A natural cavity was visible in a fork in the tree where the nest was found. It was about 3,3 metres above the ground. The cavity was 35 cm long and 64 cm wide.
Two days later, a downy chick was observed in the cavity. It was approximately three weeks old. It was on a large clump of moss, but no more nesting material was found.
The nestling was fed by both parents, probably with large insects such as orthopterans and coleopterans. The female frequently flew from the nest to catch insects on the ground, before to return quickly to feed the chick. The male was seen sometimes catching insects attracted by the light of a lamp.
This observation indicates that the Bare-shanked Screech-Owl probably breeds from mid-February (egg-laying) through early May (fledging) in this region.
Fledglings are usually observed from May to August.
More information here: First nest record of the bare-shanked Screech-Owl (Otus clarkii)
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl is a restricted-range species but it is present in several protected areas.
It is described as “uncommon”. The species is threatened by habitat loss with the cloud forest habitats in central Costa Rica affected by the development related to the dairy industry on highlands.
The global population is estimated at less than 50,000 mature individuals, and it is placed in the band 20,000/49,999 mature individuals.
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl is currently evaluated as Least Concern.
Fr: Petit-duc de Clark
Ang: Bare-shanked Screech-Owl
All: Nacktbein-Kreischeule
Esp: Autillo Serrano
Ita: Assiolo di Clark
Nd: Kaalpootschreeuwuil
Sd: barbent skrikuv
Photographers:
Dubi Shapiro
Dubi Shapiro Photo Galleries
Ken Havard
My Bird Gallery & Flickr gallery 1 & Flickr gallery 2
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Vol 5 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliott-Jordi Sargatal - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334253
OWLS OF THE WORLD – By Claus König, Friedhelm Weick and Jan-Hendrik Becking - IBSN 978-0-7136-6548-2
First nest record of the bare-shanked Screech-Owl (Otus clarkii)
UNA - Universitad Nacional Costa Rica
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Bare-shanked Screech-Owl
Megascops clarkia
Strigiformes Order – Strigidae Family
INTRODUCTION:
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl is found in Costa Rica, S to extreme NW Colombia, where it frequents humid mountain forests, clouds forests and forest edges. It is usually seen at high elevations, from 900 to 3,300 metres depending on the range.
It usually hunts at dusk and at night, along forest edges and in clearings. Large insects, shrews and small rodents are part of the diet.
Like most Strigidae, this species nests in tree cavity, especially oaks. Both adults share the nesting duties.
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl has restricted range but it occurs in several protected areas. It is described as “uncommon” and the population is currently stable. The species is not globally threatened at the moment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 23-25 cm
Weight: 130-190 g (180 g)
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl has rich brown/dark rufous upperparts, spotted, mottled and vermiculated with black. The hindneck is washed yellow.
On the scapulars, the white outer webs with blackish edges form a white band across the shoulder. The blackish-brown flight-feathers show cinnamon-buff and blackish outer edges forming bars on closed wings. The tail displays contrasting pale and dark bars.
The underparts are pale brown. The buffy-brown throat and breast show white spots and black streaks. Both lower breast and belly exhibit reddish-brown bars or black streaking. The centre of lower belly and vent is whitish.
On the large cinnamon head, the crown is darker, rather brown with black streaks, while the facial disk is cinnamon with indistinct dark rim. The ear-tufts are fairly small and short.
The bill is greenish/bluish-grey with horn-tinged cere. The base is surrounded by black, long rictal bristles.
The eyes are pale yellow.
The feathered thighs are buff. The bare lower tarsi and toes are pinkish-horn/flesh. The claws are black.
This species appears to have two morphs, one rufous and another rather dark brown.
Male and female are similar.
The chick is whitish. The juvenile becomes cinnamon-buff above with white speckles and dark bars when fledging.
The underparts are buffy-white with dull cinnamon bars.
RANGE:
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl occurs in a range limited to Costa Rica, Panama and the NW regions of Colombia.
HABITAT:
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl frequents dense, humid mountain forests, cloud forests and forest edges at high elevations, from 900 to 2,350 metres, and occasionally up to 3,300 metres. It may occasionally be found in more scattered upland forests.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl’s primary song is a deep “woohg-woohg-woohg-woohg”. It is repeated in intervals of every few seconds. We can also hear a deep, whistled “hu-hu, Hoo Hoo Hoo”. The third and fourth notes are the most audible at a distance.
The female’s song is slightly higher-pitched, and both mates often sing in duet.
The call of this species is a high-perched, musical hooting “coo, coo-coo-coo”.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl is strictly nocturnal, and usually hunts at dusk and at night. It can be seen hunting along forest edges or in clearings, and also in the canopy.
It feeds primarily on large insects including crickets, grasshoppers and beetles, and also some spiders. Shrews, small rodents and other small vertebrates are also part of the diet.
The prey is caught with the talons, from the ground or from branches. It also takes insects around artificial lights.
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl is a social species. Family groups can be found close to each other, including during the breeding season.
At this period, both mates sing in duet. The Strigidae usually perform courtship feeding during which the female begs food as a young bird. Flight displays are also reported. But more information is needed concerning the present species.
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl typically nests in natural cavities in trees or abandoned holes by woodpeckers. They are monogamous and both parents share the nesting duties.
This species is presumably resident, and there are no known movements other than dispersions by juveniles.
The nocturnal owls have silent flights, thanks to the soft flight-feathers.
The flight is usually fast with steady wingbeats. Some erratic movements are necessary while flying through wooded areas.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding behaviour of the Bare-shanked Screech-Owl is poorly known, but an observation in the mountains of central Costa Rica in 1994, allowed to describe a nest and some parental behaviour.
In April 1994, a pair of Bare-shanked Screech-Owls was heard and observed at 2,490 metres of elevation. The vegetation included cloud forest and subalpine páramo. Oaks, bromeliads, orchids, mosses and lichens were the main vegetation.
