Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species was first collected in 1919 in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia, but was only described as a species in 2017. It only occurs in a small range, in which area and quality of its habitat are in decline. Therefore, the species is listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The population size of this species has not been directly quantified. However, a preliminary population estimate can be derived based on the area of mapped range, habitat availability and population density of congeners. The mapped range (not equivalent to EOO) of Santa Marta Screech-owl covers an area of c.4,500 km2. Given that only about 15% of the original forests are remaining in the area, it is concluded that there is c.675 km2 of suitable habitat remaining within the range. Density estimates are available for the closely related Tawny-bellied Screech-owl (Megascops watsonii), ranging from 1.75 pairs/km2 in French Guiana to 5.5 pairs/km2 in Peru (Santini et al. 2018). It is preliminarily assumed that Santa Marta Screech-owl occurs at a similar density, i.e. at 1.75-5.5 pairs/km2, which equates to 3.5-11 mature individuals/km2. Given the availability of suitable habitat within the range, the population is estimated to number 2,300-7,500 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta have been heavily logged and burnt since the 1950s, with the cleared land being exploited for non-native tree plantations (primarily pine and eucalyptus) and livestock farming (Dinerstein et al. 1995, Snyder et al. 2000). Only about 15% of the original vegetation of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta remains. While the rate of forest loss has slowed down considerably, with only minor deforestation occurring between 2000-2016 (Tracewski et al. 2016), the habitat remains fragmented and degraded. Based on this, a slow population decline is suspected.
Santa Marta Screech-owl is endemic to the Santa Marta region of Colombia. It is only known from the humid forest between 1,800-2,500 m elevation on the San Lorenzo ridge in the northwestern part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Krabbe 2017). It is likely that the species also occurs in suitable habitat throughout the entire Santa Marta mountain range, potentially to elevations higher than 2,500 m; however, further research is required to confirm this distribution (Krabbe 2017).
The species occurs in humid, tropical forest between the altitudes of 1,800-2,500 m (Copete 2017, Krabbe 2017).
The main threat faced by the species is habitat loss stemming from deforestation. The forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta have been heavily logged and burnt since the 1950s, and about 85% of the original forest cover has disappeared. Forests are mainly converted for non-native tree plantations (primarily pine and eucalyptus) and livestock farming (Dinerstein et al. 1995, Snyder et al. 2000, C. Olaciregui in litt. 2012).
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to clarify the species's distribution, population size and trends. Assess threats to the species. Protect remaining habitat.
Megascops gilesi is a yellow-eyed, medium-sized screech-owl. Its facial disk has a relatively indistinct narrow dark brown rim. The crown and back are regularly barred with relatively straight and wide dark bars. It has a semi-concealed pale nuchal collar separated from the back by a contrasting dark band, blackish shaft streaks of underparts relatively sparse and narrow, which contrasts with the light brown cross bars that are evenly and widely spaced on the belly, not in groups of two, and fairly straight rather than wavy. Tarsi, but not toes feathered, these feathers are golden buff, contrasting with the white of the belly. Iris yellow, bill blue with pale tip and toes bluish flesh (Krabbe 2017).
Text account compilers
Everest, J.
Contributors
Olaciregui , C.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Santa Marta Screech-owl Megascops gilesi. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/santa-marta-screech-owl-megascops-gilesi on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.