Bare-legged owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bare-legged owl |
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Margarobyas
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| Species: |
lawrencii
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Gymnasio lawrencii |
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The bare-legged owl (Margarobyas lawrencii) is a special type of owl. It is also known as the Cuban bare-legged owl or Cuban screech owl. This owl lives only in Cuba and a nearby island called Isla de la Juventud. It's the only species in its unique group, called Margarobyas.
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What's in a Name? The Bare-legged Owl's Story
For a while, people thought the bare-legged owl was the same as the Puerto Rican owl. But in 1868, a scientist named George Newbold Lawrence showed it was its own species. Over the years, this owl has been placed in different groups by scientists.
How the Owl Got Its Scientific Name
The name Margarobyas comes from two old Greek words. Margarites means "pearl," and byas means "owl." This name was chosen because Cuba is often called the "Pearl of the Antilles." The second part of its name, lawrencii, honors George Lawrence. He was the scientist who helped us understand this owl was a unique species.
Meet the Bare-legged Owl: Appearance
The bare-legged owl is a fairly small bird. It measures about 20–23 cm (8–9 in) long. It weighs around 80 g (2.8 oz), which is about as much as a small apple.
Why "Bare-legged"?
Its name comes from its legs, which don't have feathers. They are a greenish-yellow color. This is similar to another bird called the burrowing owl.
Owl Features
These owls have dark brown eyes. They do not have the ear tufts that some other owls have. Their face is a creamy color, forming a facial disk. They also have brown rictal bristles, which are like stiff feathers around their beak.
Feather Colors
The top part of their bodies is mostly brown. Some parts might look a bit reddish-brown. Their wing feathers have white stripes. You can also see white spots on their shoulders and scapular feathers. The underside of their body is gray-white or yellow-white. It has some brown streaks and sometimes even cross-stripes on the sides and chest.
Young Owls
Baby bare-legged owls look a lot like the adult owls. However, they have fewer white spots on their feathers.
Life of a Bare-legged Owl: Habitat and Habits
The bare-legged owl lives in different types of forests in Cuba. It likes dry forests and moist lowland forests. It can also be found in areas where forests have been changed by humans. These owls especially like areas with lots of palm trees.
Hunting and Diet
This owl hunts mostly on the ground. It is a nocturnal animal, meaning it is active only at night. Its main food is insects and other arthropods, like spiders. Sometimes, it will also eat frogs, snakes, and even small birds.
Nesting and Family Life
Bare-legged owls don't build their own nests from scratch. Instead, they use holes already made by woodpeckers, especially in palm trees. They also use natural openings in trees or cracks in rocks. Scientists don't know a lot about how they raise their young. However, they do know that the breeding season is from January to June. The female owl usually lays about two eggs. She then sits on them to keep them warm until they hatch.
See also
In Spanish: Sijú cotunto para niños
