RUFOUS-LEGGED OWL - Strix rufipes

Description:
Medium sized owl with no ear tufts. Upper-parts rufous-brown barred with white, more extensive white barring on nape and head. Under-parts white barred with brown. Facial disk rufous with dark eyes. Legs and feet orange-brown to cinnamon.

Size:
33-38cm, 300-400g.

Range:
C Chile and WC Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and occasionally the Falkland Is.

Habitat:
Dense moist montane forest and semi-open lowland forest.

Food:
Small mammals, birds and insects.

Breeding:
Little known, October. 2-3 eggs laid in a tree hole.

Call:
Rapid sequence of 3-4 grunting notes followed by 10-12 high pitched nasal notes.

Status:
Listed as not globally threatened, although habitat loss through logging is extensive in some parts of its range.

Comments:
Little is known about the ecology of this species. It is hoped that the captive birds at the Owl Centre can teach us about its behavior, vocalization and reproductive biology.

Races:
The race sunburn from the Chiloe Island is described form one immature specimen and it may simply represent a dark morph.

Origin: C Chile and extreme WC Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Is.
Chiloe Island off C Chile.

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