Pulsatrix perspicillata (*) Cladus: Eukaryota Name Pulsatrix perspicillata (Latham, 1790) Reference Index ornithologicus 1 p.58 Vernacular names The Spectacled Owl, Pulsatrix perspicillata, is a large tropical owl. It is a resident breeder from southern Mexico and Trinidad south to southern Brazil, Paraguay and northwestern Argentina. There are six subspecies.
The Spectacled Owl is 46 cm (18 in.) long and weighs 850 g (1.9 lbs). It is unmistakable with brown upperparts, head and upper breast, white facial markings and buff underparts. The eyes are yellow and the beak is pale. The juvenile is even more distinctive than the adult, being completely white apart from a chocolate brown facial disc. Behaviour The Spectacled Owl is a nocturnal species of mature forests. It nests in an unlined tree cavity, laying two white eggs. It preys on mammals, even the much larger three-toed sloth[1], large insects, and birds, including smaller owls. The call is a deep hooting BOO Boo boo boo boo becoming softer and faster. References 1. ^ "Wild sloth killed by small spectacled owl in Panama". BBC News. * BirdLife International (2004). Pulsatrix perspicillata. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern Source: Wikipedia, Wikispecies: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License |
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