| Photo Information |
Copyright: Ricardo Kuehn (ryyck)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 176]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif) (994) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-05 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Camera: Canon A60 |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-06-03 10:15 |
| Viewed: 1558 |
| Points: 8 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Spectacled Owl - Pulsatrix perspicillata
Description: Spectacled Owls are dark brown with a whitish to yellow-ochre belly, a white patch on the front of the neck and a dark brown belt across the breast. White "spectacles" around their yellow eyes give them their name.
A juvenile has the adult markings in reverse - a white head with black mask, and may take several years from hatching to attain full adult plumage.
Habits: An unsociable bird. Generally nocturnal, with activity normally begining after dusk and continuing to dawn. Roosts singly by day in trees with dense foliage. Most vocal on calm, moonlit nights.
Size: Length 43-46cm (17-18")
Weight male 453-680g (16-24oz) female 680-906g (24-32oz)
Voice: A series of knocking or tapping sounds with a poping effect "PUP-pup-pup-pup-po", each successive note being lower and weaker, and the rhythm quicker as the series progresses.
The Female also has a hawk-like scream "ker-WHEEER", which has been likened to a steam whistle.
Hunting & Food: Spectacled Owls eat small mammals including mice and the occasional possum or skunk, insects, spiders, many Caterpillars, bats, birds up to the size of Jays, crabs and frogs.
They use a branch to perch on and scan the surrounding area. When prey is located, they drop with a swift pounce. Insects are snatched from foliage.
Breeding: In Costa Rica, eggs are laid in the dry season, or at the start of the wet season. Spectacled Owls nest in tree hollows and lay 1-2 eggs, which are incubated by the female for about 5 weeks. Chicks leave the nest for surrounding branches at about 5-6 weeks, well before they can fly, but depend on their parents for up to a year once fledged. Often, only one chick will survive.
Habitat: Occurs more frequently in dense tropical rainforest with mature, large trees, including forest edges. Also found in dry forest, treed savannah habitat, plantations and open areas with scattered trees.
Distribution: Mexico, Central America, Northern two-thirds of South America.
Status: Generally uncommon, but locally common in areas such as Costa Rica, Colombia and the Amazon.
Source: http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Pulsatrix&species=perspicillata |
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