| Chaco owl | |
|---|---|
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| Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno (Wales) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Strix |
| Species: | S. chacoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Strix chacoensis Cherrie & Reichenberger, 1921 | |
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The Chaco owl (Strix chacoensis) is an owl found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. [3]
The Chaco owl was originally described as a species, then quickly reclassified as a subspecies of rufous-legged owl (Strix rufipes). A 1995 paper provided strong morphological and vocal evidence that the original treatment as a species in its own right was correct. Later work showed that it is probably more closely related to the rusty-barred owl (S. hylophila) than to the rufous-legged. It is monotypic. [4] [5] [6]
The Chaco owl is 35 to 38 cm (14 to 15 in) long. Males weigh 360 to 435 g (12.7 to 15.3 oz) and females 420 to 500 g (15 to 18 oz). It has a round head with no ear tufts. Adults have a pale grayish white facial disk with concentric dark lines. Their upperparts are dusky brownish black with narrow white and yellowish buff barring. Their underparts are off-white with dark brown barring. The tail is dark grayish brown with narrow pale bars. [6]
The Chaco owl is found in southern South America, from Bolivia's Santa Cruz Department south through western Paraguay into north-central Argentina as far as Córdoba and Buenos Aires provinces. Its elevational range is not well known, but in Argentina it is found between 500 and 1,300 m (1,600 and 4,300 ft). It inhabits the Gran Chaco, a biome characterized by low rainfall. The species is found there in hilly, rolling, and flat terrain with a wide variety of forest types, both dense and semi-open. [6]
The Chaco owl is primarily nocturnal but is vocally active at dawn and dusk. It hunts from a perch, dropping on or flying to small mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. [6]
The Chaco owl's breeding phenology is poorly known but is assumed to be similar to that of other Strix owls. It probably nests in tree cavities or possibly holes in the ground. Captive females lay two to three eggs. [6]
The male Chaco owl's song is a "rather frog-like crococro craorr-craorr craorr-craorr, with emphasis on the first craorr". The female's song is similar but higher pitched. [6]
The IUCN originally assessed the Chaco owl as being of Least Concern but uprated it to Near Threatened in 2018. Its population size is not known but " is declining due to forest loss throughout its range." [1]
The stygian owl is a medium-sized "typical owl" in subfamily Striginae. It is found in Mexico, parts of Central America, Cuba, Hispaniola, and 10 countries in South America.
The spotted nothura is a species of tinamou. This bird is native to grassy habitats in eastern and southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and eastern and northern Argentina.
The rusty-barred owl is a medium-sized "typical owl" in subfamily Striginae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
The rufous-legged owl is a medium-sized owl. It is found in Argentina and Chile.
The gilded sapphire, also known as the gilded hummingbird, is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The rufous-throated sapphire is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the Guianas, Peru, Venezuela and possibly Argentina and Paraguay.
The spot-tailed nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.
The rufous nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
The ocellated poorwill is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru.
The rufous-banded owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Yungas pygmy owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
The austral pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile.
The Pacific pygmy owl or Peruvian pygmy owl is a small "typical owl" in subfamily Surniinae. It is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
The black-capped screech owl, or variable screech owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
The cloud-forest screech owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
The West Peruvian screech owl or Peruvian screech owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The long-tufted screech owl is a species of "typical owl" in the subfamily Striginae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
The violaceous quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The mountain wren is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in the Andes of northwestern Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Venezuela.
The Chaco puffbird is a species of bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
