Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

Mottled Owl

Strix virgata

Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Puracé National Natural Park

1 Verified sightings at Puracé National Natural Park From 2019 to 2026

4,375 Verified sightings across all 66 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

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 →

Closest Relatives at Puracé National Natural Park

Strix albitarsis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Glaucidium jardinii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Megascops choliba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Megascops albogularis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Asio flammeus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Megascops ingens

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Aegolius harrisii

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tyto furcata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
2	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~10%
3	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
4	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
5	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
6	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
7	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
8	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
9	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
10	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
11	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
12	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	<5%
13	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
14	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
15	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
16	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
17	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
18	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
19	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
20	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
21	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
22	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
23	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
24	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
25	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
26	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
27	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
28	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
29	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
30	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	<5%
31	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
32	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
33	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
34	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
35	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
36	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
37	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
38	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
39	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
40	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
41	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
42	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
43	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
44	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
45	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
46	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
47	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
48	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
49	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	Insufficient data
50	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
51	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
52	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
53	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
54	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
55	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
56	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
57	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
58	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
59	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
60	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
61	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
62	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data
63	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
64	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
65	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
66	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

← Back to Puracé National Natural Park

Mottled Owl

About the Mottled Owl

Recent sightings of Mottled Owl in Puracé National Natural Park

Closest Relatives at Puracé National Natural Park

Rufous Banded Owl

Andean Pygmy-Owl

Tropical Screech-Owl

White-throated Screech-Owl

Short-eared Owl

Rufescent Screech-Owl

Buff-fronted Owl

American Barn Owl

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found