Yungas Screech Owl

The Yungas screech owl (Megascops hoyi), also known as montane forest screech-owl and Hoy's screech owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia. == Taxonomy and systematics == The Yungas screech owl is monotypic. It and the current black-capped screech owl and long-tufted screech owl have sometimes been considered conspecific under the name "long-tufted screech owl" but with the black-capped screech owl's binomial, Megascops atricapilla. However, vocal and DNA evidence refute that treatment. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) uses the name "Yungas screech owl" but notes that the English name is "unsettled". The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS/SACC), the Clements taxonomy, and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World use the English name "montane forest screech-owl". == Description == The Yungas screech owl is 23 to 24 cm (9.1 to 9.4 in) long and weighs 110 to 145 g (3.9 to 5.1 oz). It occurs in brown, gray, and rufous morphs. It has a gray-brown facial disc, white brows over bright yellow eyes, and small "ear" tufts. Its upperparts are overall brown, gray-tinged in the gray morph and rusty in the rufous morph. The…