From Opus

Strix virgata

Ciccaba virgata

[edit] Identification

Vertical bars on the chest and throat and white markings in the back. Dark eyes, round head, no ear tufts.

[edit] Distribution

Mexico, to Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. Accidental vagrant to Texas (1 specimen record).

[edit] Taxonomy

Seven subspecies are recognized: squamulata, tamaulipensis, centralis, virgata, macconnelli, superciliaris, and borelliana.

[edit] Ciccaba vs. Strix

Some authorities (Sibley & Monroe, 1996; IOC 1.6, 2008) retain Mottled Owl (virgata), Black-and-white Owl (nigrolineata), Black-banded Owl (huhula), and Rufous-banded Owl (albitarsis) in the genus Strix. König et al. state that the general morphology and phylogenetic evidence of these four species does not indicate separation from the rest of Strix, and Restall goes on to explain that they were originally separated into the genus Ciccaba based on anatomy of the external ear. While Clements (2007) and Howard & Moore (2003) do recognize Black-and-white Owl and Black-banded Owl as being in Ciccaba, Howard & Moore deviate from Clements and retain Mottled Owl and Rufous-banded Owl in Strix alongside aforementioned authorities. The Opus awaits further clarification.

[edit] Habitat

Dry forests and jungles.

[edit] Behaviour

They are territorial.

[edit] External Links