Pseudoscops grammicus
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Subsectio: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Euornithes
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Ornithurae
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Ordo: Strigiformes
Familia: Strigidae
Subfamilia: Asioninae
Genus: Pseudoscops
Species: Pseudoscops grammicus
Name
Pseudoscops grammicus (Gosse, 1847)
References
The birds of Jamaica. p. 19,note
Vernacular names
čeština: Kalous jamajský
English: Jamaican Owl
The Jamaican owl (Asio grammicus) is a medium-sized owl that is endemic to the island of Jamaica.[2]
Taxonomy and systematics
The Jamaican owl was previously considered the only member of the genus Pseudoscops, but phylogenetic analysis has reclassified it within Asio. It is monotypic.[3][2]
Description
The Jamaican owl is 27 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in) long; one specimen of unstated sex weighed 335 g (11.8 oz). This medium-sized owl has long ear tufts, dark brown eyes, and a rufous facial disk rimmed in black-flecked white. The adult's upperparts are rufous with fine dark brown vermiculation. The tail is also rufous, with dark brown bars. The breast and belly are rufous with narrow dark brown streaks. The juvenile's back is light grayish brown and the rest of its plumage is light cinnamon-buff.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The Jamaican owl is found throughout the island of Jamaica. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open landscapes such as open woodland, forest edges, plantations, and gardens. It is primarily a bird of coastal and lowland areas, but can be found as high as 600 m (2,000 ft) of elevation in the mountains.[4]
Behavior
Feeding
The Jamaican owl is nocturnal and eats mainly large insects. Its diet also includes spiders, amphibians, lizards, and rodents. There is one record of its taking a bird, a Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger).[4]
Breeding
The Jamaican owl's breeding phenology is poorly known. Nesting has been reported between March and October and egg laying between December and June. It lays a clutch of two eggs in a tree cavity or a concealed tree fork.[4]
Vocalization
Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.
Songs and calls
Listen to Jamaican owl on xeno-canto
Adult Jamaican owls make a "[h]igh, quivering hoot and guttural growl".[4]
Status
The IUCN has assessed the Jamaican owl as being of Least Concern.[1] It is considered widespread and common, but "cutting of forest has probably reduced its range and numbers".[4]
References
BirdLife International (2016). "Jamaican Owl Pseudoscops grammicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.2)". Retrieved July 14, 2021.
Salter, Jessie F; Oliveros, Carl H; Hosner, Peter A; Manthey, Joseph D; Robbins, Mark B; Moyle, Robert G; Brumfield, Robb T; Faircloth, Brant C (2019-12-12). "Extensive paraphyly in the typical owl family (Strigidae)". The Auk. 137 (1). doi:10.1093/auk/ukz070. ISSN 0004-8038.
Olsen, P.D. and J. S. Marks (2021). Jamaican Owl (Asio grammicus), version 1.1. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.jamowl1.01.1 retrieved September 7, 2021
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