| Bare-legged owl | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Margarobyas Olson & Suárez, 2008 |
| Species: | M. lawrencii |
| Binomial name | |
| Margarobyas lawrencii (Sclater, PL &Salvin, 1868) | |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
Gymnasio lawrencii | |
Thebare-legged owl (Margarobyas lawrencii), also called theCuban bare-legged owl orCuban screech owl, is a species ofowl in the familyStrigidae that isendemic toCuba andIsla de la Juventud. It belongs to themonotypicgenusMargarobyas.
The bare-legged owl was described in 1800 and for a time, it was considered the same species as thePuerto Rican owl. However, it was later determined to be its own species byGeorge Newbold Lawrence in 1868. It has variously been placed in the genera "Noctua",Gymnoglaux, andGymnasio. TheAmerican Ornithological Society moved it to the genusOtus in 1998. However, in 2003, they moved the bird back to the genusGymnoglaux based on physical and vocal differences between the bare-legged owl and typical screech-owls. Finally, in 2008, the genusMargarobyas was proposed, as it was found thatGymnoglaux was a junior synonym ofGymnasio.
Two subspecies have been accepted by some authors in the past, withM. l. exsul, found in western Cuba and the Isla de Juventud, and nominateM. l. lawrencii in the rest of Cuba.M. l. exsul is supposedly differentiated by a darker brown color and more spots, although this subspecies is no longer recognized.[4]
Margarobyas comes from the Greekmargarites, a pearl, andbyas, an owl. This name was given as a reference to Cuba's status as the "Pearl of theAntilles". The species name,lawrencii, is in honor of George Lawrence.[5]
The bare-legged owl is relatively small, measuring 20–23 cm (8–9 in) long, and weighing about 80 g (2.8 oz). Its name comes from its featherless green-yellow legs, similar to those of theburrowing owl.[6] These owls have dark brown eyes, no ear tufts, a cream-coloredfacial disk, and brownrictal bristles. The upperparts of these birds are largely brown to slightly rufous in colour. Their wing feathers have white barring, and there are white spots on their shoulder and scapular feathers. The underparts are gray- to yellow-white, with some brown streaking and occasionally even cross-barring on the sides and breast.
Juvenile bare-legged owls have similar plumage colors to adults, but have fewer white spots.[5]
The naturalhabitats of the bare-legged owl aredry forests,lowlandmoist forests, and heavily degraded former forest. It particularly prefers stands of palm trees. Most of its foraging is done on the ground, and it is strictly nocturnal.[5] The bare-legged owl eats primarilyinsects and otherarthropods. It will less frequently eatfrogs,snakes, and occasionally smallbirds.[6]
These birds are secondary cavity nesters, requiring eitherwoodpecker holes (particularly in palm trees) ornatural openings in trees or rock crevices. Not much is known of their breeding ecology, but breeding season is January to June. The average clutch size is two eggs, which are incubated by the female owl.[5]
