Buff-fronted Owl (aegolius harrisii)

Buff-fronted Owl

[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] aegolius harrisii | [authority] Cassin, 1849 | [UK] Buff-fronted Owl | [FR] Nyctale de Harris | [DE] Blassstirn-Kauz | [ES] Lechucita Canela (Arg, Uy), Mochuelo Canela | [NL] Harris’ Zaaguil

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

Members of the genus Aegolius are small owls with a large, rounded head with no ear-tufts, and a well developed, rounded facial disc. The eyes are yellow or orange-yellow with black at the edges of the eyelids. They have long wings, are feathered down to and sometimes including the toes. The genus contains four species, all of which live in extensive forest (one in the Holarctic region, three in America).

Physical charateristics

The Buff-fronted Owl is a small, compact, short-tailed and broad-winged owl, 23 cm long and weighing 130 g. It is black above with white flecking on the wings. The underparts are unstreaked buff and the tail is brown with two spotted white bars. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a black-edged buff facial disc. The flight is strong and direct.

Listen to the sound of Buff-fronted Owl

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Buff-fronted Owl.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 20 cm size max.: 21 cm
incubation min.: 0 days incubation max.: 0 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 0 days
broods: 0   eggs min.: 2  
      eggs max.: 4  

Range

South America : East, Central

Habitat

It prefers humid forest with clearings and openings, also higher altitudes up to 3800 and cultivated land. Found in dry country and ravines.

Reproduction

Builds nest in tree cavity about 5-10m above ground. Clutch size usually 3 eggs. Nest is lined with feathers and hair.

Feeding habits

Insects and small rodents, no further information

Video Buff-fronted Owl

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIhMuURKk60

copyright: Cassiano Fadel


Conservation

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Buff-fronted Owl status Least Concern

Migration

Presumed sedentary

Distribution map

Buff-fronted Owl distribution range map

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