Spectacled Owl

Spectacled owls (Pulsatrix perspicillata) are distinctly colored medium-sized owls with dark brown bodies and very white to yellow-ochre colored bellies. They have a white line outlining their chins. Their name comes from the white color surrounding their eyes that resembles eyeglasses, or “spectacles”. Spectacled owl babies have markings that reflect he exact opposite of their parents, with white bodies and dark faces.

This owl is nocturnal and can be seen being active after dusk until dawn. It preys upon small mammals like mice, possums, skunks, insects, birds and frogs, among others. They are found in Mexico, Central America, and South America in dense tropical rainforests, dry forests, savannahs with trees, plantations and open areas with few trees. They lay 1-2 eggs in nests in tree hollows. This owl is not generally a commonly found owl, but is more commonly seen in areas like Costa Rica and the Amazon. A major threat to this owl is habitat loss and forest fragmentation.