Crested Owl

Overview

The crested owl (Lophostrix cristata) is a medium-sized owl and the only species in the genus Lophostrix. It is a resident bird found throughout Central America and northern South America, classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Medium-sized owl with a total length of 38–43 cm and a weight of 425–620 g.
• Distinctive very long white or buff ear tufts and a prominent whitish eyestripe that extends into the tufts.
• Plumage varies by morph: dark morphs are chocolate-brown with white-dotted wing coverts, while light morphs are rufous-brown with a dark brown collar on the upper breast.
• Bill is generally yellow or darker; toes are pale grey-brown; irises range from yellow to brown mottled with rufous.

Habitat

Found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests, inhabiting areas up to 1000 m in altitude. Prefers old-growth forest and proximity to water, with higher abundance in areas featuring undergrowth and snags. Range includes Belize, Mexico, and extends across South America to Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.

Diet

Feeds mainly on large insects and is thought to consume small vertebrates. Bats make up an estimated 5% of its diet, though the owl is known to be an opportunistic predator, including instances of catching bats in mist nets.

Did you know?

The crested owl's call is a low, far-carrying croak that begins with a stuttering rattle accelerating into a deep, guttural sound, which can be mistaken for the call of a Bare-Throated Tiger Heron.