Fulvous owl

The fulvous owl is a monotypic species in the genus Strix. It is a member of the true owl family, Strigidae. It was formally described in 1868, as Syrnium fulvescens. The type specimen came from Guatemala. In 1970 it was classified as a subspecies of the barred owl (Strix varia), but it is generally recognized as a separate species today, although some researchers consider it part of a superspecies, along with the barred owl and possibly the spotted owl (Strix occidentalis). ==Description==

The fulvous owl is a medium-sized owl with a round head. It lacks the ear tufts found in many other owls. and between . Measured wing lengths for the species range between , while tail length ranges between , and the bill length between . Adults weigh approximately , with females on average being heavier. The facial disc of the species is a dull brownish-white or pale ochre in color, and is slightly darker around the eyes. The disc has concentric dark brown bars around it, and short white eyebrows. The crown, the nape of the neck, and the upperparts of the species are a rich, warm dark brown or reddish brown. The crown and the neck have scalloped markings in a lighter shade. The upperparts of the bird are covered by sparse bars colored "ochraceous buff", that become smaller and less regular on the scapulars, lower back, and rump. The wing coverts have small pale brown markings, while the greater and median coverts have a white spot near the base. The primaries have big spots ranging from whitish to pale brown. The secondaries have five or six light brown bands. The underparts of the bird are shades of light brown, with dark brown or reddish-brown streaks. The undertail coverts are buff colored, with some dark streaks on the longest feathers. The bill and the cere are yellowish in color. The legs are covered in reddish-brown feathering till the toes, which are yellowish. The claws are horn-colored with dark tips. The iris is dark brown. Sexes are alike in the fulvous owl. Chicks are whitish, while juveniles are cinnamon-brown with yellowish or white barring and a brownish facial disc. The species is visually most similar to the barred owl, found in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The barred owl is more gray above and more white below. The fulvous owl is approximately one-fifth smaller than the Mexican variant of the barred owl. The mottled owl (Ciccaba virgata) has a similar range as the fulvous owl, but is found only at lower altitudes. It is darker brown and smaller, while the facial disc is dark with a white edge, as opposed to light with a dark edge in the fulvous owl. ==Distribution and habitat==

The fulvous owl is found in highland regions in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Its existence in Oaxaca was reported in 1950, but locations from which the specimens were collected had been challenged. The species was confirmed to exist in Oaxaca in 2011. The species was traditionally considered a messenger of death in parts of Mexico. ==Behavior and ecology==

The call of the fulvous owl is described as a loud barking hoot, rendered as "who-wuhu-woot-woot" or "a'hoo a'hoo-hoo a'hoo, hoo": the number of notes is variable. The species is nocturnal, though it occasionally calls during the day, and hunts from a perch. Its diet is poorly known. It likely consists of rodents, large insects, birds, frogs, and lizards. The fulvous owl does not migrate. Females incubate the eggs, and males are thought to forage for the females and young. ==References==