Mottled Owl
Strix virgata
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
- FamilyStrigidae (Typical Owls)
- GenusStrix (Wood Owls and Allies)
- SpeciesStrix virgata (Mottled Owl)
About the Mottled Owl
The mottled owl (Strix virgata) is a medium-sized owl found in Central and South America from Mexico to Brazil and Argentina. The head and back are mottled brown and the underparts whitish, with vertical bars on the chest and throat. The eyes are dark and the head is round and they do not have ear tufts. They are territorial and found in dry forests and jungles at altitudes of up to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level.
The mottled owl was described by the American ornithologist John Cassin in 1849 and given the binomial name Syrnium virgatum. In 1999, Wink and Heidrich transferred it to the genus Strix, but this is still contested by some authorities.
The mottled owl is a medium-sized owl with adults reaching 280 to 355 mm (11 to 14 in) in length. Females are considerably larger than males; the mottled owl shows the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism of any species of owl. The crown, nape and back are mottled in several shades of darkish brown, the facial disc is pale brown and the throat, breast and belly are off-white with distinctive vertical brown streaks. The large eyes are brown, the beak is greyish-yellow or greyish-blue, and the legs and feet... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Mottled Owl in La Amistad International Park (Panama)
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at La Amistad International Park (Panama)
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Strix nigrolineata
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Megascops choliba
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Megascops clarkii
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Pulsatrix perspicillata
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Lophostrix cristata
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius ridgwayi
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Central American Pygmy-Owl
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Tyto furcata
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Mottled Owl in La Amistad International Park (Panama)?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Mottled Owl sighting in La Amistad International Park (Panama), based on 333 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Mottled Owl in La Amistad International Park (Panama)?
May has the highest sighting rate for Mottled Owl in La Amistad International Park (Panama) in our monthly data.