Rusty-barred Owl
Encyclopedia
The Rusty-barred Owl is a species
of owl
distributed mainly in the south of Brazil
(where it is known as the Brazilian Owl) and further inland to Paraguay
and the extreme northeast of Argentina
.
The Rusty-barred Owl is one of only a few members of the Strix genus
to be found in South America
. It is elusive and probably quite rare, and as a result has been little studied. The classification in the Strix genus is therefore probably only temporary, until more information can be gathered on the nature of the owl.
They are medium-sized owls, 33 to 38 centimetres (13 to 15 in) long, and weighing 285 to 340 gram
s (10 to 12 oz). Their body and breast are rust-coloured, and they have a brown barring, hence their common name. They have dark eyes set in a rusty coloured heads. They also have a pale buff barring their upper parts. The Rusty-barred Owl's call is a very deep grunt, similar to that of a frog
.
The Rusty-barred Owl feeds primarily on insect
s, vole
s, mice
, and has been known to eat small birds occasionally, as well as certain reptiles.
They prefer to inhabit areas of dense forest or woodland, where they live in the undergrowth. Because of deforestation throughout their range, this bird could be at risk, and is therefore classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
The breeding season for the Rusty-barred Owl is between the months of August and October. It nests in a tree hole. The incubation
period is 29 days on average. The young leave the nest five weeks after birth, and become fully independent at approximately four months.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
distributed mainly in the south of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(where it is known as the Brazilian Owl) and further inland to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and the extreme northeast of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
The Rusty-barred Owl is one of only a few members of the Strix genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
to be found in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. It is elusive and probably quite rare, and as a result has been little studied. The classification in the Strix genus is therefore probably only temporary, until more information can be gathered on the nature of the owl.
They are medium-sized owls, 33 to 38 centimetres (13 to 15 in) long, and weighing 285 to 340 gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
s (10 to 12 oz). Their body and breast are rust-coloured, and they have a brown barring, hence their common name. They have dark eyes set in a rusty coloured heads. They also have a pale buff barring their upper parts. The Rusty-barred Owl's call is a very deep grunt, similar to that of a frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
.
The Rusty-barred Owl feeds primarily on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, vole
Vole
A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body, a shorter hairy tail, a slightly rounder head, smaller ears and eyes, and differently formed molars . There are approximately 155 species of voles. They are sometimes known as meadow mice or field mice in North America...
s, mice
MICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
, and has been known to eat small birds occasionally, as well as certain reptiles.
They prefer to inhabit areas of dense forest or woodland, where they live in the undergrowth. Because of deforestation throughout their range, this bird could be at risk, and is therefore classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
The breeding season for the Rusty-barred Owl is between the months of August and October. It nests in a tree hole. The incubation
Avian incubation
Incubation refers to the process by which certain oviparous animals hatch their eggs, and to the development of the embryo within the egg. The most vital factor of incubation is the constant temperature required for its development over a specific period. Especially in domestic fowl, the act of...
period is 29 days on average. The young leave the nest five weeks after birth, and become fully independent at approximately four months.