Galapagos Night Birds & Owls

Category: Night Birds
Endemic Subspecies: Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl

Just three species of night birds have been recorded in Galapagos, two of which are resident with endemic subspecies. Each of the species represents a different group. Owls are commonly seen during a Galapagos trip.

Scientific Name: Tyto Alba
Family: Tytonidae
Length: 26 cm (10.2 in)
Wingspan: 68 cm (26.7 in)

Barn Owls are medium-sized, mainly nocturnal, birds of prey with long, broad, rather rounded wings; hooked bills; relatively long, slender legs; and sharp, curved talons. They are distinguished from other owls by their white, heart shaped facial discs. The sexes are alike and immature plumages resemble adult plumage.

Identification: A medium-sized owl identified by combination of greyish golden-brown upperparts with small white spots, dusky underparts with faint black spotting, heart-shaped facial disc and dark eyes. In flight, underwings appear white.

Behavior: Mostly nocturnal, although sometimes seen hunting on the ground or from a perch during early morning and late evening; flies with slow, deep wingbeats and occasional glides. Sometimes found roosting during the day in buildings.

SHORT-EARED OWL

Scientific Name: Asio flammeus
Family: Strigidae
Length: 34 - 42 cm (13.4 - 16.5 in)
Wingspan: 90 - 105 cm (35.4 - 41.3 in)

The typical owls are small to large-sized, mainly nocturnal, birds of prey with long, broad, rounded wings; hooked bills; relatively short, powerful legs; and sharp, curved talons. The only species to occur in Galápagos, the Short-eared Owl, is medium-sized and readily told from the Barn Owl by its mainly dark plumage, dark, circular facial disc and yellow eyes. The sexes are alike and immature plumages resemble adult plumage.

Identification: A fairly large, rather long-winged, brown owl with short, often inconspicuous, ear-tufts. Upperparts heavily mottled and streaked dark brown and buff; wings dark brown with buff spots; underparts slightly paler than upperparts with brown streaking, heaviest on the breast; facial disc dusky brown, bordered breast with narrow black and white lines; eyes yellow. In flight, underwings pale with black crescent in carpal area and black wing-rips. Sexes alike, although females appreciably larger than males.

Behavior: Most active during the early morning and late evening, quartering the ground with slow, deep wingbeats, somewhat reminiscent of a harrier. Tends to feed nocturnally in areas where Galapagos Hawk is present.