Bare-legged Owl
Margarobyas lawrencii
A charming owl with large dark eyes, bushy white or buff eyebrows, and a buffy mustache. At night hunts woodlands or open areas with large trees; during the day roosts in tree cavities or caves. Its song is a distinctive accelerating soft “hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo…” that has a “bouncing ball” rhythm; occasionally gives a screech. No similar species within its range.
Identification
The bare-legged owl is relatively small, measuring 20–23 cm (8–9 in) long, and weighing about 80 g (2.8 oz). Its name comes from its featherless green-yellow legs, similar to those of the burrowing owl. These owls have dark brown eyes, no ear tufts, a cream-colored facial disk, and brown rictal bristles. The upperparts of these birds are largely brown to slightly rufous in colour. Their wing feathers have white barring, and there are white spots on their shoulder and scapular feathers. The underparts are gray- to yellow-white, with some brown streaking and occasionally even cross-barring on the sides and breast.<p>Juvenile bare-legged owls have similar plumage colors to adults, but have fewer white spots.
Taxonomy
The bare-legged owl was described in 1800 and for a time, it was considered the same species as the Puerto Rican owl. However, it was later determined to be its own species by George Newbold Lawrence in 1868. It has variously been placed in the genera "Noctua", Gymnoglaux, and Gymnasio. The American Ornithological Society moved it to the genus Otus in 1998. However, in 2003, they moved the bird back to the genus Gymnoglaux based on physical and vocal differences between the bare-legged owl and typical screech-owls. Finally, in 2008, the genus Margarobyas was proposed, as it was found that Gymnoglaux was a junior synonym of Gymnasio.<p>There is one possible subspecies: M. l. exsul, found in western Cuba and the Isla de Juventud. It is supposedly differentiated by a darker brown color and more spots, although this subspecies is not generally recognized.<p>Margarobyas comes from the Greek margarites, a pearl, and byas, an owl. This name was given as a reference to Cuba's status as the "Pearl of the Antilles." The species name, lawrencii, is in honor of George Lawrence.
- Scientific name
- Margarobyas lawrencii
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1868)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Margarobyas
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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