Strix virgata
The Mottled Owl (Strix virgata) is a medium-sized, true owl characterized by its rich brown, grey, and buff plumage, intricately mottled and barred across its body, offering superb camouflage within its forested habitat. Averaging 30-38 cm (12-15 in) in length with a wingspan of 76-91 cm (30-36 in), it typically displays large, dark brown eyes set within a prominent facial disk, a yellowish-grey bill, and lacks distinct ear tufts, distinguishing it from many other owl species in its range. It...
This adaptable owl primarily inhabits humid and semi-humid subtropical and tropical forests, woodlands, forest edges, and secondary growth, often found near streams or clearings. It occurs across a significant elevational gradient, from sea level up to approximately 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).
The Mottled Owl is an opportunistic carnivore, primarily feeding on large insects such as beetles and moths, small mammals like rodents and bats, small birds, reptiles (lizards and snakes), and amphibians (frogs). It predominantly hunts by ambush from a perch.
Strictly nocturnal, the Mottled Owl typically begins its activity at dusk, roosting quietly during the day in dense foliage, often near the trunk of a tree or within a tree cavity. It is primarily a sit-and-wait predator, perching motionlessly on a branch and swooping down on unsuspecting prey, t...
The Mottled Owl boasts an expansive distribution spanning much of the Neotropics, from southern Mexico, throughout Central America, and extensively into northern South America. Its breeding range covers countries such as Mexico (from Sonora and Tamaulipas south), Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, H...
Least Concern
- The Mottled Owl's dark eyes, unlike the yellow eyes of many other owls, indicate it is primarily a nocturnal hunter, optimized for low-light conditions. - Despite its 'mottled' name, which describes its intricate camouflage, it lacks the prominent ear tufts found on many other owl species. - It...