Pulsatrix melanota
The Band-bellied Owl (*Pulsatrix melanota*) is a striking, medium-sized neotropical raptor, measuring approximately 43-48 cm (17-19 inches) in length with a wingspan likely around 90-100 cm (35-39 inches) and weighing about 600-800 grams. Its most distinctive field mark, giving rise to its common name, is a broad, brilliant white band cutting across its otherwise dark sooty-brown underparts, contrasting sharply with its dark upperparts. The facial disc is dark, accentuated by prominent white ...
This owl inhabits dense, humid montane cloud forests and submontane forests, primarily found at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters.
Mainly feeds on large insects, small mammals, and birds, captured by ambushing prey from a perch.
The Band-bellied Owl is primarily nocturnal, becoming active at dusk and hunting through the night, then retreating to dense foliage or tree cavities to roost during the day, often relying on its cryptic coloration for camouflage. Its foraging strategy is typical of many owls: a patient sit-and-w...
The Band-bellied Owl is endemic to the humid montane forests of the Andes in South America, spanning a significant but disjunct distribution. Its breeding range extends from the southern reaches of Colombia, through Ecuador, and Peru, southwards into northern Bolivia. Within this extensive range,...
Least Concern
- The Band-bellied Owl's striking white belly band is a unique identifying feature, setting it apart from its closest relatives, the spectacled owls. - Despite its relatively wide distribution across the Andes, it is considered one of the most elusive and rarely observed owls in South America, ma...