California Spotted Owl
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Strix
Species: occidentalis
**Spotted Owl audio comig soon**
Description
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Length: 17.5"
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Wing span: 40"
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Weight: 1.3 lb (610grams)
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Large owl with dark eyes and a round head with no ear tufts
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Irregular white spotting on cholcolate-brown colored body
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Dull yellowish green bill
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Fully feathered legs and feet
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Males and females are alike in plumage with females being slightly larger
Factoids:
- A denizen of mature coniferous forests, the Spotted Owl has been at the center of debates between forces for and against logging in the Pacific Northwest. Because of its role as the indicator species for old-growth forest, it has become one of the best-studied owls in the world
- Three subspecies of Spotted Owl are recognized. The Northern Spotted Owl lives from northern California to British Columbia, and is the darkest brown with the smallest white spots. The California Spotted Owl lives only in California, is lighter brown and has larger spots. The Mexican Spotted Owl is the smallest and lightest race with the largest white spots. It lives from Utah and Colorado southward into southern Mexico
- The most important food items for the Spotted Owl are flying squirrels and woodrats. In areas where woodrats make up the bulk of the diet, the owl has a smaller home range. The Spotted Owl also eats bats and other owls
- Spotted Owl pairs mate for life and only change partners if the other dies. The pair will usually only raise young every other season
All photographs and audio clips are ©Jamie Mullin 2007
Sources: Cornell Lab of Ornithology & The Sibley Guide to Birds.
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