About the Stygian Owl
The Stygian owl is a medium-sized "typical owl" in subfamily Striginae. It is found in Mexico, parts of Central America, Cuba, Hispaniola, and 10 countries in South America.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The Stygian owl is 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in) long and weighs about 400 to 675 g (14 to 24 oz). The sexes have similar very dark plumage. (The adjective "Stygian" means "of, or relating to, the River Styx", but is more widely applied to anything that is dark or dismal.) The face is blackish with a pale border and a whitish forehead, and the head has long dark feathers that project upward as "ears". The dark upperparts have buff streaks and bars; the underparts are a dingy buff with dark brown or blackish barring and streaks. Voice: The Stygian owl's song has been variously described as "a single deep, emphatic woof or wupf", "a very low and loud hu or hu-hu", and "a muffled hoot given singly: boo". Females also give "a short, screamed rre-ehhr or mehrr" when calling to the male, and also "a short catlike miah".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, French Guiana, Paraguay.
When to see it
Peak activity in February · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Marsh OwlAsio capensisMedium-sized, dark brown with a pumpkin-shaped head with small 'ear' tufts.
Madagascar OwlAsio madagascariensisThe Madagascar owl is similar in appearance to the Holarctic long-eared owl in that it sits tall and at rest shows prominent ear tufts.
Abyssinian OwlAsio abyssinicusThe Abyssinian owl has dark brown eyes, a black bill and gray eyebrows.
Learn the Stygian Owl for real
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