Got its name from the River Styx, the mythical river of the underworld. Found from Mexico down to South America, this medium-sized night hunter has dark grey feathers, a black face, and tall feather tufts on its head. While its eyes look yellow during the day, they shine bright red when hit by a flashlight or camera flash at night. Because of this creepy red glow and dark face, people in parts of Brazil call it the “devil’s owl.”
Unlike most owls that hunt mice on the ground, the Stygian owl mostly eats other animals in the air. It sneaks up on sleeping birds in trees and catches bats right out of the sky. To find these fast targets in the dark, its ears are set at different heights on its head. This helps the owl pinpoint exact sounds in 3D, allowing it to swoop down and catch prey without using its eyes at all.
This rare bird is hard to find because it hides so well during the day. It presses its body against dark tree trunks and sticks its head tufts straight up, looking just like a broken branch. Instead of building its own nest, it moves into old bird nests or lays eggs right on the ground. During spring, male owls even clap their wings together under their bodies in mid-air to make loud popping sounds to attract a mate.
Distribution
Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
French Guiana
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Paraguay
Peru
VenezuelaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
