General

Striped Owl: Medium sized, slender owl with mottled brown and buff upperparts with some black streaks, white and buff underparts with black streaks. White facial disk with black outline. Long, brown ear tufts. Eyes yellow-brown, bill black-gray. Long wings, brown-gray tail with narrow bars. Bare, yellow feet. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Striped Owl: Range extends from east Mexico south through much of Central and South America to Uruguay and northeast Argentine. Does not occur east of the Andes or in the Amazonian Basin. Prefers open and semi-open savannas and grasslands with scattered trees and bushes. Also found in wooded suburban areas, marshland, agricultural and pasture land.

Breeding and Nesting

Striped Owl: Two to four white eggs are laid in an untidy nest placed on the ground in tall grass, or in a dense bush. The female incubates the eggs for 33 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Striped Owl: Eats a variety of small and medium sized mammals and birds. It forages by flying low over open areas at night and then pouncing down to catch prey with talons. Also hunts from low perches.

Vocalization

Striped Owl: High-pitched, nasal hoot rises in the middle, then falls, "hooOOOoh". Female call is higher-pitched. A short series of barks sometimes given by mates, "hu-how, how, how".

Similar Species

Striped Owl: Stygian Owl is darker overall, with a dark facial disk, and yellow eyes.