Crested Owl

The Tropical Screech-Owl is widespread across lowland and foothill regions of Ecuador, occurring from coastal dry forests to humid Amazonian margins, typically below 1,500 meters. It is one of the most common and adaptable owls in the country, frequently found in forest edges, plantations, and even urban parks, where it hunts insects and small vertebrates at night. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and broad Neotropical range, though its nocturnal habits mean it is often under-recorded. Natural history observations reveal cavity-nesting behavior, cryptic plumage for daytime roosting, and a distinctive trilled call used for territorial defense and mate attraction.