South American great horned owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bubo virginianus nacurutu |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Bubo |
| Species: | |
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B. v. nacurutu
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| Trinomial name | |
| Bubo virginianus nacurutu Vieillot, 1817
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(but see text) |
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The South American great horned owl (Bubo virginianus nacurutu) is a cool bird of prey that lives in tropical parts of South America. You might also hear it called the Colombian great horned owl or Venezuelan great horned owl. It's a special type, or subspecies, of the larger great horned owl. Unlike its relatives in North America, this owl prefers open areas and stays away from thick, wet forests like the Amazon Rainforest. One unique thing about it is its amber-colored eyes, which are different from the yellow eyes of other great horned owls. Even though it's the biggest owl where it lives, it's still considered a relatively small horned owl compared to some others.
About This Owl's Family Tree
The South American great horned owl is part of a bigger owl family. In South America, there are two other types of great horned owls. One is called B. v. nigrescens, which lives in the northern Andean mountains. The other is B. (v.) magellanicus, found in southern and west-central South America.
Scientists now often think B. (v.) magellanicus is its own separate species, called the lesser horned owl. This is because it's quite different and can sometimes be found in the same areas as the South American great horned owl. Even though some people once thought the South American great horned owl was a separate species, most experts today see it as a distinct subspecies of the great horned owl.
What Does It Look Like?
The South American great horned owl has a dull brownish color. It also has a long beak. Owls from the drier, inner parts of Brazil often have a lot of white feathers. These white feathers can be seen on their upper tail and near their ears. A special feature of this owl is its eyes. Its eyes are a beautiful amber color, not yellow like many other great horned owls.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the South American great horned owl in many countries. It lives in eastern Colombia and Venezuela. It's also found in Belize, French Guiana, and northeastern Brazil. Other places it calls home include Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. This owl generally prefers more open spaces. It avoids dense, humid forests.
