There are three species of spotted owl, The Mexican spotted owl, or Strix occidentalis lucida, is one of the three spotted owl species. The average length of the Mexican Spotted Owl is 41-48 cm (16-19 inches). Their average wingspan is 107-114 cm (42-45 inches). They usually weigh approximately 547-647 grams (19.5-23 ounces). The female owls are larger, and weigh about 100 more grams, than the male owls in this representation reversed sexual dimorphism. Of the 19 owl species in America, the Mexican Spotted Owl ranks fifth largest. Mexican Spotted Owls have brown plumage dotted with white and dark brown spots. These particular birds have bigger white spots than other spotted owls, making them appear to have lighter plumage. Despite the classic light yellow eyes usually found in most owls, Mexican Spotted Owls have rare darker eyes. Very few owl species have dark eyes like this species.
These owls tend to choose forests with many full grown trees. These trees create a safe canopies ideal for nesting. Mexican Spotted Owls tend to stay in one place and do not to change their habitat often. They will only move if they are forced by extreme and severe weather. Mexican Spotted Owls tend to stick to restricted forests that don’t allow logging or destruction of the environment. These beautiful birds have the largest range of the spotted owl subspecies. In the United States, these owls tend to spotted in all of the colored states on the map to the right. Mexican Spotted Owl’s population in America is approximately 2,106 individuals. Although the American numbers are low, numbers in Mexico are even more dangerously low.
These animals, as with all owls, are nocturnal. Spotted Owls have are carnivores, their diet consists of woodrats, mice, voles, rabbits, gophers, bats, birds, reptiles and arthropods. When it comes to hunting technique, these owls are “perch and pounce” predators. This means they will wait on a branch, particularly a higher branch, and wait for prey to come into sight. It will then drop down from it’s perch and watch it’s prey for a few seconds. Then the bird will pounce forward and grab the prey between its talons and it will fly away.
Mexican Spotted Owls a solitary animals, they tend to stick to themselves when it isn’t mating season. These particular owls mate during February and March. These spotted owls do not mate every year. They tend to reach sexual maturity two to three years after hatching. After Mexican Spotted Owls mate the female will incubate the eggs while the male finds food for her and the hatchlings. These particular owls form long-term bonds with their mate. After the two month gestation period the female lays from two to four eggs. She usually will lay these eggs in secluded areas, such as natural tree cavities or small caves. Sometimes she will even re-use another birds empty nest. After about 32 to 36 days pass, the young will leave the nest to perch on nearby branches. The begin to fly short distances between 40 to 45 days old. Juveniles completely leave their birthplace the following September after they hatch.
Mexican Spotted Owls are endangered partly because of deforestation. The number of nesting areas of habitats for these oor birds decreases by the minute. These beautiful birds have a bad reproductive success rate, not to mention they have a low juvenile success rate. Once a Mexican Spotted Owl reaches maturity it can survive up to 16 years. The problem is the low production rates of two to four eggs every few years. Unfortunately of 20% of the young survive to adulthood. Most of the young dies from starvation or they are hunted and killed by predators such as the Northern Goshawk or Great Horned Owls. Not to mention the lack of proper nesting area also caused many Mexican Spotted Owls to perish before reaching adulthood.
Climate change has huge impact on this species, as it does many others. For these particular birds, their nesting technique relies of precipitation. Global warming has been decreasing the rain rates rapidly. Dry climates ruin the owl’s nesting sites and contribute to the low survival rate of their young. Not to mention the west Nile virus, which spreads considerably faster in humid climates. The blood-borne disease is spread through mosquito bites. The heat also causes droughts which concentrate the owls in area with water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs and hatch, making these poor birds easy prey.
These magnificent owls may no longer exist if people don’t start to act. There are many ways you can easily help these birds. Of the many thing you can do, one example is don’t litter. Littering contributes to the speed global warming the more we can slow it down. The more time we have to help the endangered species affected and to discover new ways to get closer to demolishing global warming. You can also sign petitions on change.org to help push the Senate to make and enforce laws protecting Mexican Spotted Owls and other endangered species.
Sources:
"Basic Facts About Mexican Spotted Owls." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 19 Sept. 2016. Web. 23 May 2017.
"Northern Spotted Owl." Encyclopedia of Environment and Society (1998): 1-3. Colorado Plateau, 1998. Web. 23 May 2017.
Palumbo, Jean, and Matt Johnson. "Mexican Spotted Owl (U.S. National Park Service)." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010. Web. 23 May 2017.
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Mexican Spotted Owl - Ecological Services, Southwest Region Fish and Wildlife Service." Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service. N.p., 2009. Web. 23 May 2017.
These owls tend to choose forests with many full grown trees. These trees create a safe canopies ideal for nesting. Mexican Spotted Owls tend to stay in one place and do not to change their habitat often. They will only move if they are forced by extreme and severe weather. Mexican Spotted Owls tend to stick to restricted forests that don’t allow logging or destruction of the environment. These beautiful birds have the largest range of the spotted owl subspecies. In the United States, these owls tend to spotted in all of the colored states on the map to the right. Mexican Spotted Owl’s population in America is approximately 2,106 individuals. Although the American numbers are low, numbers in Mexico are even more dangerously low.
These animals, as with all owls, are nocturnal. Spotted Owls have are carnivores, their diet consists of woodrats, mice, voles, rabbits, gophers, bats, birds, reptiles and arthropods. When it comes to hunting technique, these owls are “perch and pounce” predators. This means they will wait on a branch, particularly a higher branch, and wait for prey to come into sight. It will then drop down from it’s perch and watch it’s prey for a few seconds. Then the bird will pounce forward and grab the prey between its talons and it will fly away.
Mexican Spotted Owls a solitary animals, they tend to stick to themselves when it isn’t mating season. These particular owls mate during February and March. These spotted owls do not mate every year. They tend to reach sexual maturity two to three years after hatching. After Mexican Spotted Owls mate the female will incubate the eggs while the male finds food for her and the hatchlings. These particular owls form long-term bonds with their mate. After the two month gestation period the female lays from two to four eggs. She usually will lay these eggs in secluded areas, such as natural tree cavities or small caves. Sometimes she will even re-use another birds empty nest. After about 32 to 36 days pass, the young will leave the nest to perch on nearby branches. The begin to fly short distances between 40 to 45 days old. Juveniles completely leave their birthplace the following September after they hatch.
Mexican Spotted Owls are endangered partly because of deforestation. The number of nesting areas of habitats for these oor birds decreases by the minute. These beautiful birds have a bad reproductive success rate, not to mention they have a low juvenile success rate. Once a Mexican Spotted Owl reaches maturity it can survive up to 16 years. The problem is the low production rates of two to four eggs every few years. Unfortunately of 20% of the young survive to adulthood. Most of the young dies from starvation or they are hunted and killed by predators such as the Northern Goshawk or Great Horned Owls. Not to mention the lack of proper nesting area also caused many Mexican Spotted Owls to perish before reaching adulthood.
Climate change has huge impact on this species, as it does many others. For these particular birds, their nesting technique relies of precipitation. Global warming has been decreasing the rain rates rapidly. Dry climates ruin the owl’s nesting sites and contribute to the low survival rate of their young. Not to mention the west Nile virus, which spreads considerably faster in humid climates. The blood-borne disease is spread through mosquito bites. The heat also causes droughts which concentrate the owls in area with water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs and hatch, making these poor birds easy prey.
These magnificent owls may no longer exist if people don’t start to act. There are many ways you can easily help these birds. Of the many thing you can do, one example is don’t litter. Littering contributes to the speed global warming the more we can slow it down. The more time we have to help the endangered species affected and to discover new ways to get closer to demolishing global warming. You can also sign petitions on change.org to help push the Senate to make and enforce laws protecting Mexican Spotted Owls and other endangered species.
Sources:
"Basic Facts About Mexican Spotted Owls." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 19 Sept. 2016. Web. 23 May 2017.
"Northern Spotted Owl." Encyclopedia of Environment and Society (1998): 1-3. Colorado Plateau, 1998. Web. 23 May 2017.
Palumbo, Jean, and Matt Johnson. "Mexican Spotted Owl (U.S. National Park Service)." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010. Web. 23 May 2017.
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Mexican Spotted Owl - Ecological Services, Southwest Region Fish and Wildlife Service." Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service. N.p., 2009. Web. 23 May 2017.