- Pulsatrix perspicillata
Includes: Short-browed Owl
Identification
Length 46 cm; weight 850 g
- Brown upperparts, head and upper breast
- White facial markings
- Buff underparts
- Yellow eyes
- Pale nill
Juvenile: completely white, apart from a chocolate brown facial disc
Distribution
It is a resident breeder from southern Mexico and Trinidad south to W Ecuador, Bolivia and north-western Argentina.
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
There are six subspecies:
- P. p. saturata:
- P. p. chapmani:
- Eastern Costa Rica and Panama to Colombia, western Ecuador and north-western Peru
- P. p. perspicillata:
- P. p. trinitatis:
- P. p. boliviana:
- P. p. pulsatrix:
Pulsatrix is sometimes considered a full species, Short-browed Owl.
Habitat
Dense forest, but hunts in the semi-open and savanna with large trees, also in clearings and along forest edges.
Behaviour
This is nocturnal species of mature forests.
Breeding
The nest is an unlined tree cavity, laying two white eggs.
Diet
It preys on mammals and large insects, and will also take birds, including smaller owls.
Vocalisation
The call is a deep hooting BOO Boo boo boo boo becoming softer and faster.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
- Owl Pictures.com
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Spectacled Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Spectacled_Owl
