Spectacled Owl
Pulsatrix perspicillata
IUCN red list status:
Least Concern
For more informations, please visit iucnredlist.org
Spectacled Owls live in dense tropical and subtropical forests of Mexico, Central and Southern America
They eat insects, tree frogs, reptiles, birds and small mammals.
They live an average of 35 years in the wild.
They have 1 to 2 eggs, which hatch after 36 days - fledging from the nest after 5 to 6 weeks.
Spectacled Owl
About the Spectacled Owl
Spectacled owls are characterised by “spectacles” made of white feathers around their eyes and throat. The rest of their plumage is dark brown except for a creamy coloured breast and abdomen. These owls live near to water in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are mostly a nocturnal species hiding low in the foliage to prevent detection.
Males and females have different calls. The male call sounds like a hammer hitting a hollow tree that gets progressively quieter. Females have a screech call that is mainly used to attract males during the breeding season. The majority of the spectacled owl diet is made up of mice and insects. They are fast hunters swooping down onto prey before quickly returning to their perch.
Did you know?
It is the largest tropical owl in the world.
