Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Identification & Behavior: ~52 cm (20.5 in). The Great-horned Owl is gray or brownish. The upperparts are mottled with dusky. The underparts are finely barred. The iris is amber.  The facial discs are fringed with black. It has long and conspicuous ear tufts. In Amazonia, it resembles a Crested Owl, which never occurs in open or semi-open habitats. Also, see the smaller and slender Striped Owl.

Status: The Great Horned Owl is uncommon on the west slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2600-4400 m. It also occurs in southeastern Peru in the Puerto Maldonado area. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Búho Americano.

Sub-species: Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus nigrescens), Berlepsch, 1884. Andes from Colombia to NW Peru (Piura).
(B.v. magellanicus), Lesson, 1828. C Peru, Chile, W Bolivia and W Argentina S to Tierra del Fuego.

Meaning of Name: Bubo: L. bubo, bubonic= Eagle Owl. virginianus= related to or originating in the state of Virginia in the United States of America.

See more of the Family Strigidae