Birds · Strigiformes · Strigidae

Spectacled Owl

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its name comes from the striking white 'spectacle' markings around its bright yellow eyes, which stand out sharply against its dark face.

Weight

453 g – 906 g

Size

43 cm – 46 cm

Lifespan

18 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Bird Rainforest

20countries 77parks18same family

Fun facts

Its white 'spectacle' markings are what give the species its name.
The colour pattern of the young is practically the reverse of the adults'.
It eats bats, small mammals, birds and large insects.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Lowland tropical rainforest of Mexico, Central America and much of South America, up to 1,600 m
Birth weight: Exact weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Altricial at hatching
Sexual maturity: 3-5 years
Gestation / incubation: 36 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 2 eggs per clutch (though of two eggs, usually only one chick survives)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 25-30 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; NAHF; Bright's Zoo; Animal Kingdom; Animalia.bio; The Owl Pages; Dallas World Aquarium