Split from the [Vermiculated Screech Owl] because of vocalization differences (shorter song). The two species split is somewhere in central Panama. Lacking black border to facial disk seen on [Tropical Screech Owl] (if you see one without hearing it). There is a grey morph that does appears to have a bit of a border to the facial disk (or maybe the few photos show a shadow), and a rufous morph.
Africa (entire continent rather than south of Sahara)
AN
Antarctica
AO
Atlantic Ocean
AU
Australasia (Wallacea (Indonesian islands east of Wallace's line), New Guinea and its islands, Australia, New Zealand and its subantarctic islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu)
PAL
Eurasia (Europe, Asia from the Middle East through central Asia north of the Himalayas, Siberia and northern China to Japan)
IO
Indian Ocean
LA
Latin America (Middle and South America)
MA
Middle America (Mexico through Panama)
NA
North America (includes the Caribbean)
NO
Northern oceans
OR
Oriental Region (South Asia from Pakistan to Taiwan, plus Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Greater Sundas)
