The nocturnal Mottled Owl (Strix virgata) is named because of the speckled or blotched appearance of its feathers, which provides camouflage in its wooded habitat. The head and back are mottled brown and the underparts whitish, with vertical bars on the chest and throat. It is territorial and found in dry forests and jungles at altitudes of up to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level in Central and South America – from Mexico south to Argentina and Brazil. The mottled owl has excellent hearing, which allows it to locate prey in complete darkness, as well as wing feathers that dampen sound, helping it approach prey silently.
