Photo: Herbert G. Fischer / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Stygian Owl
Asio stygius
Stygian Owl (Asio stygius) — Owls of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Stygian Owl (Asio stygius) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 565 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Asio
- Species stygius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 565 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Stygian Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Stygian Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Stygian Owl (Asio stygius) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 565 g, with a wing length of about 32.7 cm and a tail of around 17.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Stygian Owl?
The Stygian Owl is a large bird that weighs around 565 g.
Where does the Stygian Owl live?
The Stygian Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Stygian Owl belong to?
The Stygian Owl (Asio stygius) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Stygian Owl eat?
The Stygian Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Stygian Owl migrate?
The Stygian Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Stygian Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Stygian Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Stygian Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Stygian Owl's range?
The Stygian Owl has a mapped global range of about 5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.