Vermiculated screech owl

Vermiculated screech owl
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	Megascops
Species:	M. vermiculatus
Binomial name
	Megascops vermiculatus; (Ridgway, 1887)
Synonyms
	Megascops guatemalae vermiculatus

The vermiculated screech owl (Megascops vermiculatus), is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. The taxonomy of this species and the Middle American screech owl can be confusing. When split, the name vermiculated screech owl (M. vermiculatus) is used for the population from eastern Nicaragua to Panama. When conspecific, the English name vermiculated screech owl is used, but M. guatemalae is used for the scientific name since it is older. Some taxonomists usually also include the "guatemalae" larger conspecific group with the foothill screech owl, M. roraimae and the Choco screech owl, M. centralis. Many authorities, including the American Ornithological Society, continue to call these species and M. guatemalae conspecific, while others, including the International Ornithologists' Union split them.

Based on voices all in Panama appear to be M. centralis (with its short-trilled song), while populations in Costa Rica appear to be divided between M. centralis and M. guatemalae (with its long-trilled song).^[2]

References

^ BirdLife International (2016). "Megascops vermiculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T61769583A95179648. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61769583A95179648.en.
^ (2001) [1] Archived 2010-06-28 at the Wayback Machine Continue to recognize a broad Otus guatemalae (namely to include O. vermiculatus, O. napensis, O roraimae)]. South American Classification Committee. Accessed 25 January 2011.

König, C., F. Weick & J.H. Becking (2008) Owls of the World. Christopher Helm, London, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2

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[1] BirdLife International (2016). "Megascops vermiculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T61769583A95179648. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61769583A95179648.en.

[2] (2001) [1] Archived 2010-06-28 at the Wayback Machine Continue to recognize a broad Otus guatemalae (namely to include O. vermiculatus, O. napensis, O roraimae)]. South American Classification Committee. Accessed 25 January 2011.

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