Rufous-banded owl
| Rufous-banded 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 | Strix |
| Species Information | |
| Species | S. albitarsis |
| Synonyms | Ciccaba albitarsis |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The rufous-banded owl (Strix albitarsis) is a species of owl of the family Strigidae, and found in South America. It was formerly placed in the genus Ciccaba, but recent studies have caused a reclassification to the genus Strix.
Description
The rufous-banded owl is medium-sized, with a length of about 11.8 to 13.7 inches. The face veil is reddish, and set with black eyes. The upper side of the body is dark brown with reddish-brown spots and transverse stripes, the underside whitish with reddish and dark brown longitudinal and transverse stripes.
Subspecies
- Ciccaba albitarsis albitarsis
- Ciccaba albitarsis opaca
- Ciccaba albitarsis tertia
The ornithologists Claus König and Friedhelm Weick describe it in his 2008 monograph as virtually unknown.[2] It is thought to feed on small mammals and insects. Nothing is known about reproductive biology. However, young birds have been observed in Venezuela in the month of August and in Colombia in June.
Rufous-banded owls are one of four species formerly of the genus Ciccaba; genetics suggested a closer relationship to birds of the genus Strix than was previously believed, resulting in a change of classification.[3] Some authorities, such as the IUCN, still refer to these birds under the former genus classification.
References
- König, Claus, and Weick, Friedhelm. Owls of the World; Christopher Helm, London (2008)
