Mottled Owl

Sprenkelkauz (Strix virgata )

The Sprenkelkauz (Strix virgata ), also known as South America Sprenkelkauz, is a species of owl of the genus Strix from the tropical forests of Central and South America from Mexico to northern Argentina.

Features

The Sprenkelkauz reaches heights of 30 to 35 centimeters. Its plumage is on the upper side dark brown with pale spots, the underside is white or yellow-brown with distinct dark brown stripes. There are several regionally limited color variants in which the speckles on the top merges into a striation. The birds of the Amazonian lowlands are reddish brown, however, slightly larger and have an orange-yellow stripes. The face veil is very well trained and delimited by white feathers.

Way of life

The Sprenkelkauz is very common in its area of ​​distribution. It is nocturnal and usually solitary. The breeding season starts in April to May and the female lays two dirty brown eggs in a tree hole or an abandoned bird of prey nest.

The Sprenkelkauz hunts mainly small mammals, small birds, reptiles, and insects.

System

The Sprenkelkauz was earlier ( Strix nigrolineata ) together with the also living in the tropical regions of South America Bindenhalskauz, the Zebrakauz (Strix huhula ) and Rötelkauz (Strix albitarsus ) and the African African Tawny Owl (Strix woodfordii ) in a separate genus Ciccaba provided that was terminated, however, and combined with the genus Strix.