Spotted Owls

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Spotted Owls


Names
Common Name:	Spotted Owls
Scientific Name:	Strix occidentalis
Appearance
Varying shades of brown with distinctive spots or speckles, and dark eyes.
Behavior
Many inhabit the Forest Kingdom of Ambala. Many are known to have distinctive lineage and to take pride in their skills.

The Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis is a species of true owl. Its species name, occidentalis, means something from the west, as it is distributed through western North America.

Information[]

Description[]

Their size ranges from 16-19 in (40-48 cm), with a wingspan of 45 in (114 cm), and weight of 1.1-1.6 lb (520-760 g).

Its body is dark brown, with arrow-shaped white spots on the back, and cross-shaped markings on the underparts.

Their call is a mellow, four note hoot "Whoop wu-hu hoo".

Ecology[]

Spotted Owls occur in a variety of hardwood and coniferous forests, preferring them to be dense, dark, and old-growth. When resting, it will sit on a branch near the trunk where it will be camouflaged.

In series, they have been found in Ambala and the Northern Kingdoms.

Diet[]

It is strictly a nocturnal sit-and-wait predator. They will either swoop down on prey, or take arboreal prey from tree limbs. They feed mainly on flying squirrels and wood rats. They will also eat other small mammals, small birds, bats, and various insects. They are hunted by various birds and mammals, including Great Horned Owls, red-tailed hawks, northern goshawks, golden eagles, and fishers. Spotted Owls tend to be out-competed by Barred Owls, as the latter are larger and more aggressive.

Reproduction[]

Breeding season is from march to September. They make use of tree cavities and abandoned raptor nests. The egg clutch is between 2-4, with an egg being laid every 3-4 days. Incubation is 28-32 days.

They are long-lived, with the oldest wild owl reaching 21 years.

Significant Spotted Owls[]

History[]

The Capture[]

At St. Aggie's, Soren and Gylfie meet Hortense, who prefers her number 12-8. She explains that the abundance of flecks in Ambala caused her to stay the size of an owlet and be a poor flier, but also resistant to moon blinking. One night at the eggorium, the leaders of St. Aggie's discovered Hortense's secret, with Finny pushing her off a cliff.