Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
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| Aegolius ridgwayi (Alfaro, 1905) |
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius ridgwayi, is a small owl. It is a resident breeder in the highlands of Central America from southern Mexico south to western Panama, mainly above 2500 m. it has occasionally been considered conspecific with the Northern Saw-whet Owl.
This nocturnal bird breeds in open mountain forests, in both the cloud forest and the higher oak woodland, laying its eggs in a tree hole. It takes rodents, shrews and other small mammals as its main prey, but will also feed on birds, bats and insects.
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl is a small, dumpy, short-tailed and broad-winged owl, 18 cm long and weighing 80 g. It is dark brown above with white markings on the wings. The underparts are unstreaked buff, becoming darker on the upper chest and facial disc. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a white-edged facial disc. The flight is fluttery and agile.
The voice of the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl is a series of rhythmic toots. Reports of this owl at lower altitudes are invariably due to the extremely similar call of an Anotheca tree frog.
The scientific species name is for the American ornithologist Robert Ridgway.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Aegolius ridgwayi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Stiles and Skutch A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
