Bare-legged screech owl
| Bare-legged screech owl | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Sub-family | Striginae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Margarobyas |
| Species Information | |
| Species | M. lawrencii |
| Synonyms | Gymnoglaux lawrencii Otus lawrencii |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The bare-legged screech owl or Cuban screech-owl (Margarobyas lawrencii) is a species of owl of the family Strigidae, and found on the island of Cuba, and named in honor of American businessman and ornithologist George Newbold Lawrence (1806-1895).[2]
Description
Bare-legged screech owls are small, measuring about 8.6 inches in length; females are slightly smaller. The upper plumage is dark chestnut in color with some mottled white on the back and wing covers. The face is brownish gray with white eyebrows. Eyes and beak are dark brown. The throat and chest is whitish, with light brownish streaks. The tail is dark brown, underneath it has whitish faint bar. The legs are long, light yellow in color, and bare of feathers.
Their hunting habits are exclusively nocturnal. During the day it remains sheltered within dense foliage, tree cavities, or caves. Diet consists primarily of insects, but will occasionally consume small rodents, birds, and reptiles.
Subspecies
- Margarobyas lawrencii exsul; Cuba
- Margarobyas lawrencii lawrencii; Cuba: Isle of Youth
