White-throated Screech-Owl

The White-throated Screech-Owl is a montane species in Ecuador, occurring from about 1,800 to 3,500 m in humid forests, forest edges, and shrubby slopes of the Andes. It is generally uncommon but widespread, most often detected by its haunting, quavering calls at night rather than by sight. The species feeds on insects and small vertebrates, hunting from perches under cover of darkness. Despite localized habitat pressures, it is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, owing to its broad distribution and stable population across the Andean highlands.