Rufous-legged Owl
Strix rufipes
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
- FamilyStrigidae (Typical Owls)
- GenusStrix (Wood Owls and Allies)
- SpeciesStrix rufipes (Rufous-legged Owl)
About the Rufous-legged Owl
The rufous-legged owl (Strix rufipes) is a medium-sized owl. It is found in Argentina and Chile. The rufous-legged owl has two subspecies, the nominate S. r. rufipes and S. r. sanborni. The latter is known from a single immature specimen. At one time what is now treated as the Chaco owl (S. chacoensis) was also considered to be a subspecies of rufous-legged owl, but the two differ in plumage, morphology, and voice.
The rufous-legged owl is compact, with a round head and no ear tufts. It is 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) long and weighs about 350 g (12 oz); females are larger than males. Adults have a rusty facial disk, white "brows" over dark brown eyes, and white lores. Its upperparts are dark reddish brown with narrow orange-buff bars and spots. The tail is also reddish brown, with buff bars. The throat is white, most of the underparts are buffy white with many black bars, and the vent area is orange-buff. The legs and toes are covered with buffy feathers. The chick is downy off-white. The juvenile is a warm buff with faint dusky brown barring and a tawny face.
The rufous-legged owl is found in Chile from approximately... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Rufous-legged Owl in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile | |
| 2 | Nahuel Huapi National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 3 | Tierra del Fuego National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 4 | Torres del Paine National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rufous-legged Owl in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-legged Owl sighting in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, based on 34 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rufous-legged Owl in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Rufous-legged Owl in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park in our monthly data.