Spotted Owl

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iSpotted Owl

northern race plumage

Conservation status

Near Threatened (NT)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	Strix
Species:	S. occidentalis

Binomial name

Strix occidentalis
Xantus de Vesey, 1860

The Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, is a species of owl. It is a resident species of forests in western North America, where it nests in tree holes, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices. Nests can be between 13 and 66 yards (12 to 60 meters) high, usually contain two eggs (though some will contain as many as four). It is a strictly nocturnal owl, which feeds on small mammals and birds.

This owl has a length of 43 cm (17 inches), a wingspan of 114 cm (45 inches, and a weight of around 600 g (21 ounces). Its eggs are a little over 2 inches (50 millimeters) long, and are white and smooth with a slightly grainy texture. The female sits on the eggs and cares for the young, while the male provides food for them.

The three sub-species of Strix occidentalis are Strix occidentalis caurina (Northern Spotted Owl), Strix occidentalis occidentalis, and Strix occidentalis lucida (often referred to as the Mexican Spotted Owl).

This bird was the subject of considerable controversy during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the northwest United States with its inclusion to the Endangered Species Act. The Spotted Owl is similar to the Barred Owl but has cross-shaped markings on the underparts where the Barred Owl is alternately barred on the breast and streaked on the belly. Barred Owls are grayer than Spotted Owls.

One regionalism for the spotted owl is the "Pootie Owl." It is known by some other names in isolated areas, with the roots of said names unknown.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Strix occidentalis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened