Crested Owl

Lophostrix cristata

Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
FamilyStrigidae (Typical Owls)
GenusLophostrix
SpeciesLophostrix cristata (Crested Owl)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Sierra de la Macarena National Park

1 Verified sightings at Sierra de la Macarena National Park From 2019 to 2026

3,547 Verified sightings across all 35 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Crested Owl

The crested owl (Lophostrix cristata) is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is the only species (monotypic) in the genus Lophostrix. It is a resident bird and occurs in Central America and northern South America. It is a medium-sized owl, easily recognizable with its very long whitish ear tufts and otherwise darker appearance. It inhabits lowland rainforests and prefers old growth in proximity with water. The crested owl is a strictly nocturnal species, but very little is known about its behaviour.

The genus of the crested owl is in the family Strigidae as well as the subfamily Striginae and is traditionally recognized as a part of the tribe Strigini along with Strix, Jubula and Pulsatrix. However, recent analysis suggest that Lophostrix could form its own tribe, Pulsatrigini, with Pulsatrix.

There are three recognized subspecies: Lophostrix cristata cristata (Daudin, 1800) Lophostrix cristata wedeli (Griscom, 1932) Lophostrix cristata stricklandi (Sclater & Salvin, 1859) It has been suggested that Lophostrix cristata stricklandi could be specifically distinct from Lophostrix cristata on the basis that it has a grey morph, a shorter song and strictly yellow... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Sierra de la Macarena National Park

Glaucidium brasilianum

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Asio stygius

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Megascops choliba

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Athene cunicularia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Megascops watsonii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Strix huhula

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Pseudoscops clamator

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Strix nigrolineata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tyto furcata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 10 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
2	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
3	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
4	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
5	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
6	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	<5%
7	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
8	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
9	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
10	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
11	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
12	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
13	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
14	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
15	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
16	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
17	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
18	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
19	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
20	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
21	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
22	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
23	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
24	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
25	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
26	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
27	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
28	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
29	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
30	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
31	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
32	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
33	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
34	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
35	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

← Back to Sierra de la Macarena National Park

Crested Owl

About the Crested Owl

Recent sightings of Crested Owl in Sierra de la Macarena National Park

Closest Relatives at Sierra de la Macarena National Park

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Stygian Owl

Tropical Screech-Owl

Burrowing Owl

Spectacled Owl

Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl

Black Banded Owl

Striped Owl

Black-White Owl

American Barn Owl

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found