Typical Owls Strigidae
This family is divided into 24 genera, of which 7 are so far described below. There are 184 species, of which 1 may almost certainly be
extinct: the Laughing Owl Sceloglaux albifacies which inhabited New Zealand. Another 6 are considered
critically endangered, 7 are endangered, 12 are vulnerable,
and another 23 species are near-threatened. Owls are found on every continent, except Antarctica. Due to their nocturnal
and generally very secretive habits, more species may exist in remote areas than previously thought. For example; two new species were described
to science in 1999.
Megascops
There are 21 species within this genus. This genus was formerly lumped with the larger "Otus" genus. The following 4 species are considered
near-threatened: Balsas Screech-Owl
Megascops seductus, Bearded Screech-Owl Megascops barbarus, Colombian Screech-Owl Megascops colombianus, and the
recently discovered and poorly known Cloud-forest Screech-Owl Megascops marshalli.
The Bare-shanked Screech-Owl Megascops clarkii has a limited distribution in cloud forests and humid, dense
mountain forests from Costa Rica south to extreme northwestern Colombia. This Bare-shanked Screech-Owl was one of two
that my friend, Robert Dean and I observed at the Santa Elena cloud forest preserve, near Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, June 2007.
Bubo
There are 16 species within this genus. The Usambara Eagle-owl Bubo vosseleri and Philippine Eagle-owl Bubo philippensis are
both vulnerable, and the Shelley's Eagle-owl Bubo shelleyi is near-threatened.
The Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus is a New World owl that is found in a wide variety of habitats from Canada, south to Argentina. It is
the commonest owl in North America. This bird was photographed at Portal, Arizona, December 2001.
Strix
There are 18 species within this genus. The Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis and the Rusty-barred Owl Strix hylophila are
near-threatened.
Barred Owl Strix varia at Meacham Lake State Park, New York, June 2008.
Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis in Scheelite Canyon, near Sierra Vista, Arizona, June 2004.
Glaucidium
There are 29 species within this genus.
Mountain Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma along the Pinery Canyon Road in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, September 2007.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum near Gomez Farias, Tamaulipas, Mexico, March 2009.
Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, January 2009.
Micrathene
This is the only member of the genus.
Measuring less than 6 inches long, the Elf Owl Micrathene whitneyi is the world's smallest owl. They summer in the southwestern USA and
northwestern Mexico in a variety of mainly lowland habitats. They migrate to Mexico for the winter. Resident populations can be found in southern Baja
California and parts of the Mexican mainland. This individual was one of two breeding pairs at Cave Creek Ranch, near Portal, Arizona, July 2007.
Athene
There are 3 species within this genus.
Although they mainly hunt at night, Burrowing Owls Athene cunicularia can often be found during the day, usually standing close to
their burrows. When approached too closely, they frequently bob up and down on their long legs, before disapearing into their burrows. This species has
become severely threatened by habitat destruction caused primarily by land development.
Photographed at Casa Grande, Arizona, January 2003, where much of their former range has been replaced by housing subdivisions.
Asio
There are 6 species within this genus.
The Long-eared Owl Asio otus is a wide-ranging species that can be found from Canada, south to northern Mexico. They are also found in
Europe, Asia, and northwestern Africa (including the Canary Islands). This bird was one of 26 that I found winter-roosting in a very large oak tree near
Portal, Arizona, January 2007.
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