Buff-fronted Owl
A species of Saw-whet Owls Scientific name : Aegolius harrisii Genus : Saw-whet Owls
Buff-fronted Owl, A species of Saw-whet Owls
Botanical name: Aegolius harrisii
Genus: Saw-whet Owls
Content
Description
Photo By Lars Petersson 
Description
The buff-fronted owl (Aegolius harrisii) is a small owl, a rare and local resident in the highlands of South America from Venezuela south and east to Peru, northern Argentina, and northwest Paraguay. Its range is effectively separated into two parts by the unsuitable habitat of the Amazon basin. This nocturnal bird breeds in open mountain forests, laying its eggs in a tree hole. It takes rodents and other small mammals as its main prey, but also feeds on birds and insects. The buff-fronted owl is a small, compact, short-tailed, and broad-winged owl, approximately 23 cm long and weighing approximately 130 g. It is black above with white flecking on the wings. The underparts are unstreaked buff and the tail is brown with two spotted white bars. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a black-edged buff facial disc. The flight is strong and direct. The voice is a quavering trill sometimes varying in pitch. The buff-fronted owl was described by the American ornithologist John Cassin in 1849, and given the binomial name Nyctale harrisii. The binomial commemorates the American ornithologist Edward Harris. 
Size
21 cm
Feeding Habits
The Buff-fronted Owl (Aegolius harrisii) consumes insects, small mammals like rodents and mouse opossums, and occasionally birds. It forages by hovering over shrubs before dawn and by examining nest cavities for prey. Adaptations include silent flight and nocturnal hunting.
Habitat
The habitat of buff-fronted Owl spans a diverse range of forested environments. It is typically found in humid, open forests including dry zones and ravines, as well as forest edges. These birds occupy various woodland types such as Podocarpus, Alnus, Polylepis, and the dry Chaco. Additionally, buff-fronted Owl can be found in cerrado woodlands, densely timbered caatinga, and moist open forests roughly 10 meters in height. Mossy, stunted forests also provide suitable habitats, alongside human-altered landscapes rich in fruit trees and palms, and semi-open subtropical rainforests interspersed with clearings and pastures.
Dite type
Carnivorous
Photo By Lars Petersson 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Owls Family
True owls Genus
Saw-whet Owls Species
Buff-fronted Owl 
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