Black-capped Screech-Owl

23-24 cm. This owl has gray, dark most common and rufous morphs. Veil brown, finely vermiculated dark, the rim of the disc dark brown: crown uniform dark brown to blackish: hindneck with a narrow whitish or ochre margin: upper parts dark earth brown, mottled and vermiculated with buff: outer webs of the scapulars pale yellowish ochre with dark edges forming a pale line across the shoulder: primaries and secondories barred dark and light brown: tail mottled light and dark: underparts lighter than the upperparts, earth brown, mottled and vermiculated with light brown or buff, the feathers with dark shaft streaks and vermiculated dark: tarsi feathered to the base of the toes: iris dark brown or chestnut.<nIn the rufous morph the general coloration is rufous, and the cap and upper parts are darker.<nIn the gray morph, the plumage is grayish, dark patterns are prominent.

Rapid trill starting very softly and getting louder tutututututututu.... on same pitch.

Forages in canopy, subcanopy and lower above ground.

Rare in primary and secondary forest and borders.

Throughout. In Estado S<C4>o Paulo reported from <8E>Barreiro Rico, Pariquera-acu, Guaratuba, Nucleo Sta. Virginia<8E> near <8E>Ubatuba, Alto do Ribeira ^119 .

/Otus sanctaemariae larger with longer ear tufts, has crown dark only in the central area. /Otus choliba is smaller with short ear tufts and yellow eyes. Vocalizations are also different.