Mexico minky owl
| Mexico minky owl | ||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Strix squamulata | ||||||||||
| ( Bonaparte , 1850) |
The Mexico-mottled owl ( Strix squamulata ), and Mexico mottled owl written, is a kind from the family of authentics owl (Strigidae). It occurs in the south of North America as well as in Central and South America. It was previously regarded as a subspecies of the South American speckled owl , but is listed as a separate species in more recent literature. The main reason is the noticeably different sound repertoire.
features
With a body size of about 29 to 33 centimeters, the Mexico speckled owl is a medium-sized species within its genus. Feather ears are missing. On the upper side of the body it is gray-brown with darker spots and speckles. The face veil is dark brown with a striking white markings that run from the eyes to the whitish edge of the face veil. The underside of the body is whitish with dark vertical stripes. The eyes are blackish brown. The beak is blue-gray.
It can be confused with the South American mottled owl, which is darker.
Distribution area and habitat
The distribution area of the Mexico mottled owl extends from Mexico through Central America to northern Colombia and southwest Ecuador. The distribution area of the closely related South American mottled owl joins in South America in the east. Presumably the western Cordilleras and the high Santa Maria Mountains isolate the two species from each other.
The Mexico minky owl is a resident bird that inhabits primary and secondary wet forests, drier woodlands, gallery forests, and plantations. Its height distribution extends from the lowlands to up to 2,000 meters above sea level.
Way of life
The Mexico mottled owl is crepuscular and nocturnal. It transmits in the dense foliage of trees and in tree hollows. Mostly he sits high above the ground. Its food spectrum is small mammals including bats. It also eats frogs and small reptiles as well as small birds and larger insects.
In Central America, the breeding season falls from February to April. It usually nests in tree hollows. The clutch consists of one or two eggs. The incubation period is 28 days. The young birds can fledge after 27 to 33 days, but they remain in the family until they are three months old.
Systematics
The mottled owl was formerly jointly with the live also in the tropical regions of South America black-and-white owl ( Strix nigrolineata ), the black-banded owl ( Strix huhula ), the Rötelkauz ( Strix albitarsus ) and the African African tawny owl ( Strix woodfordii ) into a separate genus Ciccaba found which, however, was dissolved and merged with the genus Strix .
supporting documents
Single receipts
literature
- Claus König , Friedhelm Weick: Owls of the World . Christopher Helm, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2 .