Mottled Owl

Ciccaba virgata

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Aves · Strigiformes · Strigidae

About

The mottled owl is a medium-sized owl found in Central and South America from Mexico to Brazil and Argentina. The head and back are mottled brown and the underparts whitish, with vertical bars on the chest and throat. The eyes are dark and the head is round and they do not have ear tufts. They are territorial and found in dry forests and jungles at altitudes of up to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level.

Fun Fact

Mottled owls produce a remarkably human-sounding hooting call from the dense tropical forests of Central and South America, and they are one of the most frequently heard but least often seen owls in their range.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical forests

Diet

Carnivore

Lifespan

10-13 years

Threats

Illegal Logging
Wildfire

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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