Rusty-barred Owl

Overview

The rusty-barred owl (Strix hylophila) is a medium-sized typical owl found in South America. It is a monotypic species that is known as the Brazilian owl in its southern range.

Identification

• Approximately 35 cm long, with light rusty brown facial discs featuring concentric darker brown rings and small white 'eyebrows'.
• Adults display white, brown, and orange-buff barring on the upperparts, with an orangish buff chest and whiter belly that both have dark brown bars.
• The bill is yellowish horn, the toes are yellowish gray, and the eyes are dark brown.
• The song is described as a 'frog-like deep grunting grugruu-grugruugrugru', often sung in duet by both sexes.

Habitat

Found in southeastern Brazil, southeastern Paraguay, and Argentina's northeastern Misiones Province. It inhabits the interior and edges of montane, tropical evergreen, temperate, and secondary forests, as well as pine plantations, from sea level to at least 1,000 m. It can be found close to human habitation.

Diet

A nocturnal hunter that sometimes forages in the forest canopy. Its diet includes small mammals, birds, arthropods, and probably reptiles and amphibians. One study in Brazil found that rodents and marsupials make up the majority of its prey.

Did you know?

Although its song is described as a 'frog-like deep grunting', it is produced by both sexes, who sometimes sing in duet.