Whiskered Screech-Owl

SCI Name:  Megascops trichopsis
Protonym:  Scops trichopsis Isis 25 col.276
Taxonomy:  Strigiformes / Strigidae / Megascops
Taxonomy Code:  whsowl1
Type Locality:  Mexico.
Author:  Wagler
Publish Year:  1832
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MEGASCOPS
(Strigidae; Ϯ Eastern Screech Owl M. asio) Gr. μεγας megas, μεγαλη  megalē  great; genus Scops Brünnich, 1772, owl. "5tes Subgenus. Megascops, Kp., Asiones, Schleg.  Schnabel vorgestreckt. Flügel kurz und stumpf. 1ste Schwinge so lang wie die 10te. 1ste bis 5te Schwinge an der Aussen- und Innenfahne deutlich ausgeschnitten. Fusswurzel befiedert. Zehen meist vollständig nackt.   8. Scops asio, Gr. Less." (Kaup 1851). The Eastern Screech Owl and its New World congeners were formerly placed in the genus Scops (= Otus).   
Synon. Athene, Gymnasio, Pseudociccaba.

trichopsis
Gr. θριξ thrix, τριχος trikhos  hair; οψις opsis  face.

SUBSPECIES

Whiskered Screech-Owl (aspersus)
SCI Name: Megascops trichopsis aspersus
aspersus
L. aspersus  sprinkled  < aspergere  to sprinkle upon  < spargere  to sprinkle.

Whiskered Screech-Owl (trichopsis)
SCI Name: Megascops trichopsis trichopsis
trichopsis
Gr. θριξ thrix, τριχος trikhos  hair; οψις opsis  face.

Whiskered Screech-Owl (mesamericanus)
SCI Name: Megascops trichopsis mesamericanus
mesamericana / mesamericanus
Gr. μεσος mesos  middle; Mod. L. Americanus  American.