- Strix rufipes
Identification
33-38cm (13-15 in)
- No ear tufts
- Rufous-brown upperparts barred white
- White barring on nape and head
- Whiteunderparts barred brown
- Facial disk: rufous with dark eyes
- Legs and feet orange-brown to cinnamon
Distribution
Chile, Argentina to Tierra del Fuego.
Taxonomy
This species has in the past been placed in genus Ciccaba
Chaco Owl has in the past been included in this species.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1]:
- S. r. rufipes:
- S. r. sanborni:
- Chiloe Island (Chile)
sanborni not recognized by all authorities.
Habitat
Dense moist forest such as Nothofagus; in northern part of range also in semi-open lowland forest but here limited to the moistest parts.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet consists of small tree-dwelling mammals such as long-tailed mouse, birds and insects.
Breeding
The clutch consists of 2-3 eggs usually laid in a tree hole but they sometimes utiilise old raptor nests.
There is little more information available.
Vocalization
The song reminds of the sound of someone laughing but trying to keep his mouth shot.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2016)
- SACC proposal regarding the taxonomy of this species and Chaco Owl including some notes on habitat choice.
- codot.com
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rufous-legged Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous-legged_Owl
