Chouette fauve Strix fulvescens

The southern counterpart to Barred Owl of the United States, this large brown-eyed owl occurs in highland forests from Oaxaca south to Honduras. Found in pine-oak and evergreen forest where it roosts at all levels, sometimes in fairly open situations. Hunts in open forest and at edges. Note the rounded head, pale face with brown eyes, overall buffy tone to the plumage, and a combination of barring on the breast and streaking on the belly. Compare with Mottled Owl and Cinereous Owl.