Striped Owl

Overview

The striped owl, Asio clamator, is a medium-sized owl native to South and Central America. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an estimated population ranging from 500,000 to 5.0 million individuals.

Identification

• Prominent tufts of elongated feathers on the crown resembling ears.
• Facial disk is pure white rimmed with a thin black border, featuring cinnamon-colored eyes and a black beak.
• Upperparts are brown or cinnamon with heavy black stripes and fine vermiculation.
• Underparts are pale tawny or buff-coloured with heavy black streaking on the breast.

Habitat

This species inhabits a variety of environments, including riparian woodlands, marshes, savannahs, grassy open areas, and tropical rainforests. Its range extends across much of South and Central America, from sea level to altitudes above 1,400 m.

Did you know?

The species' specific epithet, clamator, is Latin for 'shouter', a name derived from its vocalisations.