Vermiculated screech-owl

Megascops vermiculatus

Photo by Arlene Koziol (Flickr)

Common name:
vermiculated screech-owl (en); corujinha- (pt); petit-duc vermiculé (fr); autillo vermiculado (es); kritzel-kreischeule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found from northern Costa Rica to Colombia, and along the Andes south to northern Bolivia. There are also separate populations in north-western Colombia and northern Venezuela, and in southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and extreme northern Brazil.

Size:
These birds are 20-23 cm long and weigh 90-130 g.

Habitat:
The vermiculated screech-owl is mostly found in humid tropical forests, also using dry tropical forests. They are mainly found in lowland areas, but can occur up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on large insects, but possibly also some small vertebrates.

Breeding:
Vermiculated screech-owls breed in March-July. They nest in natural tree cavities, or sometimes in old nest holes of other birds such as trogons. The female lays 2-3 eggs which she mainly incubates alone for 26-37 days. There is no information regarding the fledging period, but when food is scarce the larger chicks may eat their smaller siblings.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range. There is very little information about its abundance, but its possibly not rare, at least in some areas. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Barred owl

Strix varia

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Common name:
barred owl (en); coruja-raiada (pt); chouette rayée (fr); cárabo norteamericano (es); streifenkauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Canada and throughout the eastern United States, and also the in the western United States in north-western Montana and from Washington south to northern California. There are also isolated populations in the mountain of central Mexico.

Size:
These birds are 43-51 cm long and have a wingspan of 99-111 cm. They weigh 470-1.050 g, with females tending to be larger than males.

Habitat:
The barred owl is mostly found in coniferous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, favouring mature forests with nearby open water. They also use tropical forests, wooded swamps, lakes and rivers, rural gardens and urban areas. They occur at altitudes of 1.300-3.100 m.

Diet:
They hunt mainly right after sunset, and during the night, taking small mammals up to the size of a rabbit, birds up to the size of a grouse, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods. They are also known to catch fishes.

Breeding:
Barred owls are monogamous and breed in February-August. They usually nest in an unlined natural tree cavity, but may also use lichens and pine needles for lining or use abandoned nests from other birds. The female lays 2-3 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 28-33 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 4-5 weeks after hatching, but only become fully independent about 5 months later. They reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 3 million individuals. The population has undergone a large increase of 17% per decade of the last 4 decades, and has expanded in range in the Pacific Northwest.

Madagascar scops-owl

Otus rutilus

Photo by Paolo Tibaldeschi (WWF-Bloggen Var Verden)

Common name:
Madagascar scops-owl (en); mocho-d'orelhas-de-Madagáscar (pt); petit-duc malgache (fr); autillo malgache (es); Madagaskar-zwergohreule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Madagascar, being found throughout the island.

Size:
These birds are 19-24 cm long and have a wingspan of 50-55 cm. Females are larger than males, weighing 112-120 g while males weigh 85-107 g.

Habitat:
The Madagascar scops-owl is found in a wide range of habitats, including both primary and secondary forests in both moist and dry climates, dry scrublands, plantations, rural gardens and urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of at least 1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects, especially moth and beetles, but possibly also small vertebrates.

Breeding:
Madagascar scops-owls breed in November-January. They mainly nest in tree cavities, 4-7 m above the ground, but have also been found to nest on the ground, in small depressions among the leaf litter. The female lays 2-5 white eggs, which she incubates alone. There is no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as locally rather common.The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

African barred owlet

Glaucidium capense

(Photo from Flickr)

Common name:
African barred owlet (en); mocho-barrado (pt); chevêchette du Cap (fr); mochuelo de El Cabo (es); Kap-sperlingskauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found from southern Somalia and eastern Kenya, through Tanzania and southern D.R. Congo, and into Angola and northern Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 20-22 cm long and have a wingspan of 40-45 cm. They weigh 80-140 g, with females tending to be larger than males.

Habitat:
The African barred owlet is found in open, moist tropical forests, riverine woodland and moist scrublands, also using forest edges and second growths. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt large invertebrates, such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, mantids, hawk moths, scorpions and millipedes, also taking birds up to the size of a hoopoe, mice, small lizards and frogs.

Breeding:
African barred owlets breed in August-November. They nest in natural tree holes or old woodpecker or barbet nests, 3-6 m above the ground, which they line with leaves and feathers. The female lays 2-3 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 28-34 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, leaving the nest 30-33 days after hatching, but only starting to fly about 10 days later. They reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.

Eurasian pygy-owl

Glaucidium passerinum

Photo by Lars Petersson (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Eurasian pygmy-owl (en); mocho-pigmeu (pt); chevêchette d'Europe (fr); mochuelo chico (es); sperlingskauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found in central and northern Europe, from north-eastern France and northern Italy north to northern Scandinavia and east through Romania, the Ukraine and the middle latitudes of Russia into central Asia as far as the Pacific Ocean. Also in northern Kazakhstan, northern Mongolia and north-eastern China.

Size:
These birds are 15-19 cm long and have a wingspan of 32-39 cm. Males are smaller than females, weighing 47-65 g while the females weigh 67-77 g.

Habitat:
The Eurasian pygmy-owl is mostly found in coniferous and mixed forests, in the taiga and in temperate areas, also using scrublands, marshes and bogs. They occur at altitudes of 250-2.150 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on voles, also taking other small mammals such as mice and shrews, small birds such as finches, thrushes, warblers and flycatchers, small lizards, bats, fishes and insects.

Breeding:
Eurasian pygmy-owls breed in April-July. They are monogamous and may sometimes pair for more than one season. The nest in tree cavities, mainly old woodpecker nests, also using nest boxes. The female lays 3-8 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 28-30 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 30-34 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 5-7 weeks later. They reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 300.000-1.500.000 individuals. The population is suspected to fluctuate over time owing to fluctuations in rodent prey populations and weather conditions.

African scops-owl

Otus senegalensis

Photo by Ruslou Koorts (Flickr)

Common name:
African scops-owl (en); mocho-d'orelhas-africano (pt); petit-duc africain (fr); autillo africano (es); Afrika-zwergohreule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Mauritania east to Eritrea and south to Namibia, Botswana, and northern and eastern South Africa. They are absent from the tropical forests of the Congo river basin.

Size:
These tiny owls are 15-19 cm long and have a wingspan of 40-45 cm. They weigh 45-120 g.

Habitat:
The African scops-owl is found in open savannas, dry tropical forests, scrublands, rural gardens and urban parks.

Diet:
They hunt by sallying out from a perch, taking the prey either from the ground or in flight. They mainly hunt insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, mantids, moths, crickets and cockroaches, but also take spiders, scorpions and small vertebrates such as rodents, frogs, geckos and small birds.

Breeding:
African scops-owls can breed all year round, usually starting after the local rainy season. They are monogamous and nest in a tree hole, often an old woodpecker nest. The female lays 2-6 white eggs which she incubates alone for 24-27 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 3-4 weeks after hatching, but continue to receive food from their parents for another 2 months.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is reported to be generally common throughout this range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Northern pygmy-owl

Glaucidium gnoma

Photo by Anne Elliott (Flickr)

Common name:
northern pygmy-owl (en); coruja-anã-nortenha (pt); chevêchette naine (fr); mochuelo gnomo (es); gnomenkauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found in western North America, from south-eastern Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta south to Utah and southern California.

Size:
These bird are 17-19 cm long and weigh 60-75 g.

Habitat:
The northern pygmy-owl is mostly found in open coniferous and mixed forests, also using dry savannas and occasionally freshwater lakes and the edges of meadows. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 4.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on small mammals, particularly voles, as well as shrews, mice, chipmunks, bats, moles, young rabbits, and weasels, and also small birds, small lizards, snakes, frogs, and also insects when in season.

Breeding:
Northern pygmy-owl breed in April-August. They nest almost exclusively on old woodpecker nest, 3-23 m above the ground in coniferous tree. The female lays 3-7 eggs, which she incubates alone for 29 days while the male brings her food. The chicks fledge about 30 days after hatching, but continue to be fed by the parents for another 20-30 days. Each pair raises a single brood per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 100.000 individuals. The population has undergone a small increase over the last 4 decades, but it is susceptible to habitat loss due to logging and burning of forests.

Flammulated owl

Otus flammeolus

Photo by Rick Bowers (Owl Pages)

Common name:
flammulated owl (en); mocho-flamado (pt); petit-duc nain (fr); autillo flamulado (es); Ponderosaeule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species breeds in mountain patches from southern British Columbia and Alberta, in Canada, across most of the western United States and into Mexico as far south as Oaxaca. Most populations migrate south to winter from southern Mexico to El Salvador.

Size:
These small owls are 15-17 cm long and have a wingspan of 40 cm. They weigh 45-65 g.

Habitat:
The flammulated owl is found in mountain forests, in boreal temperate and tropical regions, favouring aspen, Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine forests with dense understorey, but also using mixed forests with oak, Douglas fir, white fir, incense cedar and sugar pine. They are present at altitudes of 1.500-3.000 m.

Diet:
They are insectivorous, hunting nocturnal insects such as beetles, moths and crickets, as well as spiders. They hunt from a perch, either taking their prey in flight, from the foliage or from the ground.

Breeding:
Flammulated owls are breed in April-August. They nest in a natural tree cavity or a woodpecker nest, sometimes also using nest boxes. The female lays 2-4 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 21-24 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 30-35 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 4-5 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and the population is roughly estimated at 40.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction caused by timber harvesting.

Snowy owl

Nyctea scandiaca

Photo by Franck Renard (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
snowy owl (en); coruja-das-neves (pt); harfang des neiges (fr); búho nival (es); schnee-eule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species breeds in the northernmost areas of Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland. They migrate south to winter as far south as the northern United States, Iceland, the Baltic states, northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia and extreme northern China.

Size:
These large owls are 51-71 cm long and have a wingspan of 125-170 cm. They weigh 1,1-3 kg.

Habitat:
The snowy owl is mostly found in tundra grasslands, also using bogs, marshes, saline pools and pastures. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 300 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt lemmings and other small rodents, but also other mammals such as rabbits, hares, squirrels, prairie dogs and moles, and birds such as ptarmigans, pheasants, coots, gulls, songbirds and even short-eared owls Asio otus.

Breeding:
Snowy owls breed in May-September. They are mostly monogamous, although polygyny as been recorded on occasions. The nest is built by the female, consisting of a shallow scrape in the turf or on bare ground, with no lining. The female lays 3-11 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 32-34 days while being fed by the male. The chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest about 25 days after hatching, but only fledge at 50-60 days of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at over 300.000 individuals. The population is believed to be stable but the snowy owl is known to suffer mortality from collisions with vehicles and power lines, and electrocution.

Christmas hawk-owl

Ninox natalis

Photo by Cherry Wong (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
Christmas hawk-owl (en); coruja-de-Natal (pt); ninoxe de Christmas (fr); nínox de la Navidad (es); weihnachtsinsel-buschkauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean, where it is present throughout the island.


Size:
These birds are 26-29 cm long and weigh 160-200 g.


Habitat:
The Christmas hawk-owl is mostly found in tropical rainforest, but also use moist tropical scrublands.


Diet:
They are primarily insectivorous taking a wide range of medium and large sized insects such as Orthoptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. They also hunt small vertebrates including geckos, black rats Rattus rattus  and the Christmas white-eye Zosterops natalis.


Breeding:
Christmas hawk-owls can possibly breed all year round. They are monogamous and may mate for life. They nest in tree hollows without any lining, most often in Syzygium nervosum. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for about 1 month. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 68-77 days, but continue to depend on their parents for another 2-3 months.They reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a small and restricted breeding range, and the global population is estimated at 820-1.200 individuals. The population has declined in the past, but it is likely stable at present as it appears to adapt fairly well to secondary habitats. The Christmas hawk-owl lost 25% of its native habitat through forest clearance for phosphate extraction, but this problem seems to be mostly halted at present. The yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes was introduced in the 1990s and may prey directly on nestlings and alter island ecology. Pesticide abuse and nest predation by introduced black rats may be additional problems. Conservation measures underway include an agreement with the mining company to prevent clearance of primary rainforest, and a control programme for the A. gracilipes which successfully eliminated the ants in 95% of the area they occupied.

Ferruginous pigmy-owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Photo by André Adeodato (Flickr)

Common name:
ferruginous pigmy-owl (en); caburé (pt); chevêchette brune (fr); mochuelo caburé (es); Brasil-sperlingskauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found from the south-western United States, through Central America and into South America as far south as central Argentina. It is only found east of the Andes mountain range.

Size:
These tiny owls are 16-19 cm long and have a wingspan of 37-41 cm. They weigh 60-80 g.

Habitat:
The ferruginous pigmy-owl is found in a wide variety of habitats, including temperate and tropical forests, both moist and dry forests, scrublands and second growths. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.250 m.

Diet:
They feeds mainly on insects and spiders, but also birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals.

Breeding:
Ferruginous pigmy-owls are monogamous. They nest in natural cavities or in old woodpecker nests, in trees, stumps or cacti. The female lays 3-5 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 23-28 days while the male provides her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 27-30 days after hatching, but only become independent about 8 weeks later. Each pair raises a single brood per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Pel's fishing owl

Scotopelia peli

Photo by Dana Allen (Discover Wildlife)

Common name:
Pel's fishing owl (en); corujão-pesqueiro-de-Pel (pt); chouette-pêcheuse de Pel (fr); cárabo pescador común (es); bindenfischeule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ghana and Nigeria, eastwards to Sudan and Eritrea and south to northern Angola, Botswana and north-eastern South Africa, mainly around major river systems.

Size:
These birds are 51-63 cm long and have a wingspan of 145-155 cm. They weigh 2-2,3 kg.

Habitat:
The Pel's fishing owl is found in rainforest and swamp forests along rivers, stream, lakes and marshes, also using estuaries. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:
They mostly hunt fish up to 2 kg, namely catfishes, tilapias, pikes and squeakers, but also take frogs, crabs, freshwater mussels and even young crocodiles.

Breeding:
Pel's fishing owls breed in January-July. They are monogamous and nest in natural hollows in trees located near water. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 32-38 days. Usually only 1 chick survives. It is fed by both parents and fledges 68-70 days after hatching. The young will stay with their parents for up to 9 months and become sexually ature at 2 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be common in most of its range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Great grey owl

Strix nebulosa

Photo by Jari Peltomäki (Luonto Portti)

Common name:
great grey owl (en); coruja-cinzenta (pt); chouette lapone (fr); carabo lapón (es); bartlauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is widely distributed in the northern latitudes of Eurasia and North America. The subspecies S. n. nebulosa is found from Alaska, through most of Canada and into the western and extreme north-eastern United States. The subspecies S. n. lapponica is found from eastern Poland and Sweden, through most of Russia and into northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia and extreme north-eastern China.

Size:
These large owls are 61-84 cm long and have a wingspan of 137-152 cm. They weigh 790-1450 g.

Habitat:
The great grey owl is mostly found in boreal coniferous forests, especially in the taiga near the edge of the Arctic treeline, but also hunts over boreal scrublands and grasslands, tundra, bogs and swamps and occasionally in pastures. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.200 m.

Diet:
They hunt mainly during early morning and late afternoon, but also during the night and occasionally during the day. They feed mainly on small rodents, especially shrews and voles, but also other small mammals, birds such as crows, small hawks and ducks, amphibians, snakes and some insects.

Breeding:
Great grey owls breed in March-August. They are monogamous and nest in stick nests built by other birds, such as hawks, ravens or crows, also using artificial platforms and occasionally nesting on the ground. The nest is lined with conifer needles, deer hair, moss and shredded bark. The female lays 2-5 dull white eggs, which she incubates alone for 28-36 days while being fed by the male. The chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest 25-30 days after hatching, but only start flying 1-2 weeks later. The male is responsible for feeding them after they leave the nest. They reach sexual maturity at 1-3 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 50.000-100.000 individuals. The population trend in likely to be fluctuating, although large increases have been recorded in parts of North America in recent decades.

Eurasian scops-owl

Otus scops

Photo by Paul Cools (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Eurasian scops-owl (en); mocho-d'orelhas (pt); petit-duc scops (fr); autillo europeo (es); zwergohreule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species breeds in Morocco, Algeria and southern Europe as far north as northern France, Austria and Slovakia, than in the Ukraine, Belarus and into southern Russia and through the Middle East into central Asia as far east as Kazakhstan, north-western China and western Mongolia. Most population migrate south or south-west to winter along the Sahel belt in sub-Saharan Africa.

Size:
These birds are 16-20 cm long and have a wingspan of 53-63 cm. They weigh 90-145 g.

Habitat:
The Eurasian scops-owl is mostly found in both boreal and temperate deciduous forests, but also in scrublands, orchards, parks within urban area, agricultural areas with scattered trees and sometime also in open coniferous forests. This species is present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They are mostly insectivorous, taking cicadas, grasshoppers, beetles, moths and flying ants. They also take woodlice, earthworms, mice and shrews, small birds and sometimes even amphibians and small reptiles.

Breeding:
Eurasian scops-owls breed in March-August. They are mostly monogamous, although some cases of polygyny are known to occur. They nest in a hole in an old tree trunk, sometimes using abandoned woodpecker nests, and may also use cavities in walls of old buildings, or under roofs of cabins in parks and gardens.There the female lays 3-6 white eggs which she mostly incubates alone for 24-25 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest 21-29 days after hatching, before their plumage is completely grown. they start flying at 30-33 days of age but continue to be fed by the parents for another 5 weeks and sometimes migrate south together with their parents.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 1-3 million individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation, and the use of pesticides.

Brown fish-owl

Ketupa zeylonensis

Photo by Kata Mahakayi (Project Noah)

Common name:
brown fish-owl (en); bufo-pescador-castanho (pt); kétoupa brun (fr); búho pescador de Ceilán (es); wellenbrust-fischuhu (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Asia, from eastern Pakistan, throughout India, Nepal and Bangladesh, and into southern China, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Size:
These large owls are 48-57 cm long and weigh 1,1-2,5 kg.

Habitat:
The brown fish-owl is found in both moist and dry tropical forests, especially in open areas, and also in mangroves and plantation, but always near wetlands such as freshwater marshes, lakes and rivers. It is present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.900 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on freshwater fishes, frogs, crabs and other crustaceans, but also some small mammals, birds, reptiles and occasionally carrion.

Breeding:
Brown fish-owls breed in November-March. The nest is made of sticks and placed in a rock crevice or a cleft in a bank. There the female lays 1-2 eggs which are incubated for about 38 days. The chicks fledge some 7 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be generally uncommon.
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and the use of rodenticides may also have a negative effect on this species.

Black-and-white owl

Ciccaba nigrolineata

Photo by L. Kay (Flickr)

Common name:
black-and-white owl (en); coruja-de-listas-pretas (pt); chouette à lignes noires (fr); cárabo blanquinegro (es); bindenhalskauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found from southern Mexico no northern Venezuela, western Colombia and north-western Ecuador.

Size:
These birds are 33-45 cm long and weigh 350-535 g.

Habitat:
Black-and-white owls are mostly found in tropical rainforests, especially in forests clearings and along forests edges. Also in mangroves, gallery forests, marshes, swamps, dry tropical forests, rural gardens and plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt insects, such as beetles, cockroaches, grasshoppers, locusts and crickets, but also rodents, bats, birds and frogs.

Breeding:
Black-and-white owls are monogamous and extremely territorial. They breed during the local dry season, mostly in December-May. The nest in natural holes in live tree or stumps, or sometimes use abandoned stick nests from larger birds. There the female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 15-35 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 24-52 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 50.000-500.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Elf owl

Micrathene whitneyi

(Photo from Wangchao)

Common name:
elf owl (en); mocho-duende (pt); chevêchette des saguaros (fr); mochuelo de los saguaros (es); elfenkauz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
These North American birds are found in desert and arid areas of western Mexico and the southern United States, in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and south-eastern California.

Size:
These tiny owls are 12,5-14 cm long and have a wingspan of about 27 cm. They weigh 35-55 g.

Habitat:
The elf owl is mostly found in arid deserts overgrown with saguaro cacti, thorny scrublands, and mesquite or deciduous riparian woodlands along rivers and streams. They are also found in temperate and moist forests and dry savannas within their range. These birds are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.200 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt scorpions and insects such as grasshoppers, locusts, mantids, fly larvae, caterpillars, centipedes, and cicadas. Also some small rodents and birds and occasionally small lizards and snakes.

Breeding:
Elf owls breed in April-July. They are typically monogamous and nest exclusively in old woodpecker cavities, either on trees or cacti, 3-10 m above the ground. The female lays 1-5 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 21-24 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by the female with food the male brings to the nest. They fledge 28-33 days after hatching. Each pair raises a single brood per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and a global population estimated at 190.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction through deforestation. They are very dependent on woodpecker holes for nesting, so declines in woodpecker populations within their range will also have a negative impact on the elf owl.

Long-eared owl

Asio otus

Photo by Greg Smith (Wikipedia)

Common name:
long-eared owl (en); bufo-pequeno (pt); hibou moyen-duc (fr); búho chico (es); waldohreule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is found throughout most of Europe, North America and Asia, between 20º N and 65º N. They are also found in north-western Africa.

Size:
These birds are 35-38 cm long and have a wingspan of 96-100 cm. They weigh 260-280 g.

Habitat:
The long-eared owl is found in a wide range of habitats, typically in areas of dense vegetation with nearby open areas for hunting. These include boreal, temperate and tropical forests, grasslands, scrublands, marshes and swamps, and plantations. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 2.750 m.

Diet:
They hunt during the night, mainly taking small rodents, bats, moles, rabbits, small birds, insects, frogs and snakes.

Breeding:
Long-eared owl are typically monogamous, but polygyny has been recorded occasionally. They breed in February-July and nest on old stick nests of crows, ravens, magpies, buzzards or herons, located in a tree branch, 5-10 m above the ground. The female lays 3-8 glossy white eggs, which she incubates alone for 25-30 days while the males brings her food. The chicks are fed by the female while the males hunts for the whole family and move into branches near the nest after about 21 days, but only fledge 5 weeks after hatching. The chicks only become fully independent several weeks after fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population estimated at 1,5-5 million individuals. The long-eared owl has undergone a small decrease in North America, but it is not threatened at present.

Striped owl

Pseudoscops clamator

Photo by Michel Giraud-Audine (Flickr)

Common name:
striped owl (en); coruja-orelhuda (pt); hibou strié (fr); lechuzón orejudo (es); schreieule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
There are four different subspecies with disjunct ranges. P. c. forbesi is found from southern Mexico to Panama. P. c. clamator is found in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas, extreme northern Brazil, Ecuador and north-eastern Peru. P. c. oberi is only found in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. P. c. midas is found from central Brazil and Bolivia down to central Argentina and Uruguay. The striped owl is absent from the Amazon basin.

Size:
These birds are 30-38 cm long and have a wingspan of 76-94 cm. Males are smaller and weigh 320-385 g while females weigh 400-555 g.

Habitat:
Striped owls are found in a variety of habitats, namely wet grasslands, along the edges of tropical moist forests and swamp forests, savannas, scrublands, fresh water wetlands, irrigated land, pastures, agricultural areas and even within urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.400 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on rodents, but also bats, large insects, medium-sized birds and sometimes also lizards.

Breeding:
The striped owl breeds in August-March. They nest on a scrape in the ground, usually
hidden among long grassy clumps or thick scrubs. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for 33 days. The chicks are fed by the female while the male provides her with food, fledging 37-46 days after hatching. Usually only 1-2 chicks survive to fledging. They remain in the parents territory for another 4-5 months.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population estimated at 500.000-5.000.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.