The white-throated screech owl is a small owl found in the Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests from Venezuela and Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. It favors dense, moss-laden forest, elfin forest, and mature secondary growth with abundant epiphytes. Common along forested ravines, stream borders, and edges, but typically remains within the canopy and midstory. Often recorded where forest is intact or only lightly disturbed.
Altitude Range
1200–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A high-elevation Andean screech-owl, it is most often detected by voice rather than seen, thanks to its superbly cryptic, mossy-bark plumage. The bold white throat that gives the species its name can flash during calls or agitation. It roosts close to trunks or among epiphytes, blending seamlessly with cloud-forest substrates.
White-throated screech owl
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile maneuvering through forest
Social Behavior
Typically roosts alone or in pairs near the trunk of dense trees. Nests in natural cavities or old woodpecker holes; the female incubates while the male provisions her and later the chicks. Territorial calling is most frequent at dusk and on overcast or moonlit nights.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Voice is a series of resonant hoots that accelerate into a short trill, often delivered in bouts. Pairs may duet, and calls carry well through cloud-forest valleys.
