Black-and-white Owl
Strix nigrolineata
The Black-and-white Owl (Strix nigrolineata) is a uncommon owl found in 12 countries, weighing about 458 g. The black-and-white owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae.
About the Black-and-white Owl
The black-and-white owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-and-white owl is a medium-sized owl with a round head and no ear tufts. It is between 35 and 40 cm in length and weigh between 400 and 535 grams. As for most owl species, females are usually bigger than males with an average weight of 487 g and 418 g respectively. It has a striped black-and-white breast, belly, and vent. With the exception of a black-and white striped collar, the upperparts from the crown to the tail are a sooty black. The facial disc is mostly sooty black, with white "eyebrows" that extend from the bill to the collar. Voice: Its call consists of a series of rapid, guttural, low calls, followed by a short pause and a low, airy call and a faint, short hoot. Occasionally, it is shortened to just the last two notes, leaving out the opening series. Moreover, the female's call usually sounds louder than the male's and individuals make fainter "hoots" near their nest.
What the Black-and-white Owl sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Black-and-white Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-and-white Owl?
- The black-and-white owl is a medium-sized owl with a round head and no ear tufts. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-and-white Owl?
- The Black-and-white Owl is a large sized bird weighing about 458 g.
- Where can you see a Black-and-white Owl?
- The Black-and-white Owl occurs in 12 countries, including Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia and Guatemala.
- What does a Black-and-white Owl sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Black-and-white Owl on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Black-and-white Owl?
- The Black-and-white Owl is most easily confused with the Great Grey Owl, the African Wood Owl and the Mottled Wood Owl.
- Is the Black-and-white Owl endangered?
- The Black-and-white Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-and-white Owl for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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