About Megascops sanctaecatarinae (Salvin, 1897)
Megascops sanctaecatarinae, commonly called the long-tufted screech owl, measures 25 to 28 cm (9.8 to 11 in) in length. Males weigh 155 to 194 g (5.5 to 6.8 oz), while females are heavier, weighing 174 to 211 g (6.1 to 7.4 oz). This species is a fairly large, bulky member of the Megascops genus, with stronger feet than most other Megascops species. It occurs in three distinct color morphs, and the brown morph is more common than the gray and rufous morphs. It has very prominent "ear" tufts. For adults of the common brown morph, the upperparts are dark brown with pale, coarse, indistinct vermiculation, and the crown is somewhat lighter than the upperparts. The brown facial disc has a darker border. The underparts have a mix of irregular bars, streaks, and vermiculation in various shades of brown. The eyes are pale yellow to orange-yellow, the bill is greenish gray, and the feet are pale grayish brown. The plumages of the gray morph, rufous morph, and juvenile long-tufted screech owl have not been formally described. This species is distributed across southeastern Brazilian states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, Misiones Province in northeastern Argentina, and adjoining northern Uruguay. It lives in a variety of open and semi-open landscapes, including sparse woodland, pastures with scattered trees, the edges (not the interior) of dense forest, secondary forest, and woodlots near villages. It is found mainly at elevations between 300 and 1,000 m (980 and 3,300 ft).
