The spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) is a large tropical owl native to the neotropics. It is a resident breeder in forests from southern Mexico and Trinidad, through Central America, south to southern Brazil, Paraguay and northwestern Argentina. There are six subspecies. One is occasionally treated as a separate species called the short-browed or brown spectacled owl but the consensus is that it is still merely a race until more detailed analysis can be done.
The Spectacled owl is a large tropical owl species. It is unmistakable in most of its range with blackish-brown upperparts, head and upper breast, white facial markings, and whitish to yellowish-ochre underparts. The eyes are yellow and the beak is pale. The juvenile is even more distinctive than the adult, being completely white apart from a chocolate brown facial disc.
The Spectacled owl is a resident breeder from southern Mexico and Trinidad, through Central America, south to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northwestern Argentina. This is primarily a bird of tropical rain forests and is found mostly in near water and where the dense, old-growth forest is profuse. It can also be found in dry forests, treed savanna plains, plantations, and semi-open areas with trees. In areas such as Costa Rica, it may inhabit subtropical montane forests.
Spectacled owls are generally solitary birds, usually roosting singly each day and only associate with others of their own species during the breeding season. They are largely nocturnal, starting activity right around the time of last light at dusk and usually being back on their roosts for the day around first light. Most hunting starts with the owl perched on a branch and scanning the area, then dropping with a quick pounce when prey is located. Insects may be gleaned directly from foliage while the owls actively forage. These birds are most vocal on calm, moonlit nights. The primary sound made by Spectacled owls consists of guttural knocking or tapping sounds with a popping effect: PUP-pup-pup-pup-po, POK pok pok bog bog bog bobobo or BOO Boo boo boo boo. The male is the primary singer to proclaim a territory, often singing from the upper third of a tall tree. However, females also sing, uttering the same song but with a higher pitch. Duets between pairs can been heard on moonlit nights. Females also make a hawk-like scream, ker-WHEEER, which has often been compared to a steam-whistle. Owlets beg with a harsh, high-pitched keew call.
Spectacled owls are carnivores and eat everything that is active during the night. Their diet includes a wide array of mammals, frogs, lizards, invertebrates such as caterpillars, but also crabs, snails, large insects, and spiders. Spectacled owls will also take birds such as jays, oropendolas, motmots, pigeons, and perhaps smaller types of owl.
Spectacled owls are monogamous and form long term pair bonds. In Costa Rica, eggs are laid in the dry season (November-May), or at the start of the wet season (June-July). These owls usually nest in an unlined tree cavity but may also use the crutch of a large tree. The female lays 1-2 eggs and incubates them for about 5 weeks. If two eggs are hatched, often only one of the owlets will survive, the smaller owlet usually dies from starvation or from the aggression of the larger nestling. The young leave the nest for surrounding branches at about 5-6 weeks but cannot usually fly well at this stage. However, they tend to depend on their parents for several months after leaving the nest and maybe cared for and fed for up to a year once fledged. Spectacled owls may breed while still in immature plumage since it may take up to five years before full adult plumage is obtained.
Spectacled owls are not considered threatened or endangered at present. However, being a large, slow-maturing bird of prey with a strong sense of territoriality, it, as a rule, occurs at low densities. In areas where prey populations are hunted by people and habitats are destroyed or compromised, populations of this species may decrease. This is the likely source of extinction for an entire race on Trinidad. Occasionally, when roads are cut into the forest, Spectacled owls are killed by automobile collisions.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Spectacled owl population size is around 500,000-4,999,999 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
Spectacled owls play an important role in their ecosystem. Due to their diet habits, these large birds of prey control the population of various mammals and insects. They are also an important food source for other predators.