[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 |
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| 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.
Migration
Presumed sedentary
Distribution map
