Birds
Spectacled Owl
Pulsatrix perspicillata
Bold white markings frame the dark face of a spectacled owl, a pattern so distinctive it gives the species its name, though young birds look almost nothing like this until years of gradual molting bring them into adult plumage.
Overview
The spectacled owl, Pulsatrix perspicillata, is a Least Concern bird of prey found across lowland tropical forest from Mexico through Central America and much of South America to Argentina. Its bold facial markings, deep knocking call, and dramatic transformation from juvenile to adult plumage make it one of the more visually striking owls found anywhere in the Neotropics.
A slow transformation
Few owls change appearance as dramatically as the spectacled owl, whose mostly white juveniles with dark eye patches bear little resemblance to the dark-faced, white-spectacled adults they will eventually become after several years of gradual molting.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable lowland tropical forest habitat throughout its extensive range from Mexico to Argentina.
Spectacled Owl: common questions
Why is it called the spectacled owl?
It shows a dark brown face framed by bold white eyebrow and throat markings that together resemble a pair of glasses, a feature that gives the species its common name.
Why do young spectacled owls look so different from adults?
Juveniles are mostly white with dark eye patches, nearly the opposite of the adult pattern, and take up to four years of gradual molting to acquire full adult plumage.
What does the spectacled owl eat?
It is a carnivore, hunting mammals, birds, large insects, and occasionally other owl species within forest canopy and understory.
What does the spectacled owl's call sound like?
It produces a distinctive deep, knocking call often compared to the sound of someone striking wood.