Jamaican Owl
Asio grammicus
A somewhat large nocturnal inhabitant of wooded areas including gardens and parks; roosts in tree cavities or dense foliage during the day. The Barn Owl is of similar size, but it is much paler and lacks the Jamaican Owl’s prominent ear tufts. Vocalizations include a low, gruff “wa-waaa-o” and a crescendo/decrescendo “whoa.”
Identification
The Jamaican owl is 27 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in) long; one specimen of unstated sex weighed 335 g (11.8 oz). This medium-sized owl has long ear tufts, dark brown eyes, and a rufous facial disk rimmed in black-flecked white. The adult's upperparts are rufous with fine dark brown vermiculation. The tail is also rufous, with dark brown bars. The breast and belly are rufous with narrow dark brown streaks. The juvenile's back is light grayish brown and the rest of its plumage is light cinnamon-buff.
Taxonomy
The Jamaican owl was previously considered the only member of the genus Pseudoscops, but phylogenetic analysis has reclassified it within Asio. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Asio grammicus
- Authority
- (Gosse, 1847)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Asio
Range and habitat
The Jamaican owl is found throughout the island of Jamaica. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open landscapes such as open woodland, forest edges, plantations, and gardens. It is primarily a bird of coastal and lowland areas, but can be found as high as 600 m (2,000 ft) of elevation in the mountains.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Jamaican owl is nocturnal and eats mainly large insects. Its diet also includes spiders, amphibians, lizards, and rodents. There is one record of its taking a bird, a Greater Antillean grackle (Quiscalus niger).<p>The Jamaican owl's breeding phenology is poorly known. Nesting has been reported between March and October and egg-laying between December and June. It lays a clutch of two eggs in a tree cavity or a concealed tree-fork.<p>Adult Jamaican owls make a "[h]igh, quivering hoot and guttural growl".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Campocolinus coqui
Small, beautifully-patterned francolin. Males have a rufous head, while females have an elaborately-striped head, and both sexes show dark barring on the belly. Found on the ground in areas with thick grass, ranging from pure grassland to lush woodland. A generally shy and retiring species that sometimes sits out boldly when calling. Gives two distinctive calls: a repeated “co-qui” and a short series of cackling notes. Smaller than most other francolins, and bigger than quail and buttonquail. Its plumage pattern is distinctive when seen well.
Black-billed Treehunter
Thripadectes melanorhynchus
Rather dull, brownish bird found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes. Brown with faint buff streaking on head, throat, and breast. Throat is scaled buffy, and tail is rusty. Lack of distinct streaking on lower underparts helps distinguish it from other similar species in range. Usually seen foraging along branches at low to medium heights. Typical song is a series of two to six strident notes; a longer series may be given if the bird is excited.
Gray Fantail
Rhipidura albiscapa
Small songbird with long, pale-tipped tail, tiny, thin bill. Gray above, pale below, with narrow pale wingbars and a thin black border between white throat and chest. Frequently cocks and fans tail. Subspecies vary in upperparts tone and extent of white in the tail. Inhabits wide range of habitats, very active in foraging, and rarely perches in the same place for long.
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