Buff-fronted Owl
Aegolius harrisii
The Buff-fronted Owl (Aegolius harrisii) is a rare owl found in 10 countries, weighing about 120 g. The buff-fronted owl is a small owl.
About the Buff-fronted Owl
The buff-fronted owl is a small owl. It is found in widely separated areas in every South American country except French Guiana and Suriname.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The buff-fronted owl is 19 to 21 cm (7.5 to 8.3 in) long and weighs 104 to 155 g (3.7 to 5.5 oz). It is compact and has a short tail and a large blocky head without ear tufts. Its facial disks are buff with a black surround and distinctive black patches above its greenish yellow eyes. The nominate subspecies' forehead and hindneck are yellowish buff and the rest of the head and upperparts chocolate brown. The tail is blackish and has two white bars and a white tip. Its chin has a small brown patch and the rest of the underparts are yellowish buff. A. h. Voice: The male buff-fronted owl's song is "a rapid, wavering trill, 'frurururururururu'". Dependent fledglings give a "hissing, raspy 'cheet' begging call".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Guyana.
When to see it
The Buff-fronted Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Buff-fronted Owl?
- The buff-fronted owl is 19 to 21 cm (7.5 to 8.3 in) long and weighs 104 to 155 g (3.7 to 5.5 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Buff-fronted Owl?
- The Buff-fronted Owl is a medium sized bird weighing about 120 g.
- Where can you see a Buff-fronted Owl?
- The Buff-fronted Owl occurs in 10 countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.
- What birds look similar to a Buff-fronted Owl?
- The Buff-fronted Owl is most easily confused with the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, the Northern Saw-whet Owl and the Boreal Owl.
- Is the Buff-fronted Owl endangered?
- The Buff-fronted Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Buff-fronted Owl for real
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