Puerto Rican owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Puerto Rican owl |
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| Gymnasio nudipes over a Delonix regia tree | |
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| Gymnasio nudipes newtoni | |
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Gymnasio
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| Species: |
nudipes
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G. n. nudipes |
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The Puerto Rican owl (Gymnasio nudipes), also known as the múcaro, is a special type of owl that is only found in Puerto Rico. It is a night animal, meaning it is active mostly after the sun goes down.
This owl used to be called the Puerto Rican screech owl. Its name múcaro comes from the Taíno language, which was spoken by the native people of the Caribbean. There was once a subspecies (a type of this owl) called G. n. newtoni that lived in the Virgin Islands. People there called it the cuckoo bird, but sadly, this type of owl is now extinct.
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About the Puerto Rican Owl
The Puerto Rican owl is a small bird. It has a brown back and a lighter brown or white belly. You might notice white lines on its body and white "eyebrows" above its eyes.
Female owls are usually a little bigger than male owls, but they look very similar. These owls are about 20 to 23 centimeters (8 to 9 inches) long. Their wings can spread out about 154 to 171 centimeters (60 to 67 inches) wide. They weigh about 103 to 154 grams (3.6 to 5.4 ounces).
Where They Live
The Puerto Rican owl is common on the main island of Puerto Rico. However, it is no longer found on the nearby islands of Vieques and Culebra.
Scientists believe there were many more of these owls in the past. But in the early 1900s, many forests were cut down for farms. This meant the owls lost their homes. Today, they like to live in forests with big, hollow trees, such as the Caribbean National Forest.
What They Eat
The Puerto Rican owl mainly eats large insects, like cockroaches. They also enjoy eating coquí frogs, anole lizards, geckos, small rodents, and even small birds.
Sometimes, after eating, the owl will spit out a small, undigested ball of food. These are called pellets. These pellets can contain insect shells, bones, fur, feathers, and teeth from the animals they ate.
Reproduction and Calls
The Puerto Rican owl's breeding season is from April to June. During this time, the female owl lays 1 or 2 eggs in a nest, usually inside a hollow tree trunk.
These owls make a loud "coo-coo" sound. They often call out at dawn (early morning) while hiding in thick leaves. This distinct call is why they were sometimes called the "cuckoo bird" in the Virgin Islands.
Gallery
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An owl in the western town of Aguada.
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A young owl, called an owlet.
See also
In Spanish: Mucarito de Puerto Rico para niños
