Changes

==Description==

==Description==

The mottled owl reaches a length of between 11.8 to 13.7 inches. Its plumage is dark brown on the upper side with bright spots, with the underside white or yellow-brown with distinct dark-brown stripes. There are several color variants in which the mottling of the upper side changes into a striation, depending on the region in which they are found. The birds of the Amazonian forest are, however, reddish-brown, slightly larger and have an orange-yellow striation. The face veil is very well developed and delineated by white feathers.

The mottled owl reaches a length of between 11.8 and 13.7 inches. Its plumage is dark brown on the upper side with bright spots, with the underside white or yellow-brown with distinct dark-brown stripes. There are several color variants in which the mottling of the upper side changes into a striation, depending on the region in which they are found. The birds of the Amazonian forest are, however, reddish-brown, slightly larger and have an orange-yellow striation. The face veil is very well developed and delineated by white feathers.

===Subspecies===

===Subspecies===

Mottled owls are very frequent within its overall range; it is active at night, feeding on small birds, reptiles, and insects.  Breeding is in April to May and the female places two dirty brown eggs in a tree cave or the abandoned nest of a bird of prey.

Mottled owls are very frequent within its overall range; it is active at night, feeding on small birds, reptiles, and insects.  Breeding is in April to May and the female places two dirty brown eggs in a tree cave or the abandoned nest of a bird of prey.

Mottled owls are one of four species formerly of the genus ''[[Ciccaba]]''; genetics suggested a closer relationship to birds of the genus ''[[Strix]]'' than was previously believed, resulting in a change of classification<ref>http://www.planetofbirds.com/strigiformes-strigidae-black-and-white-owl-strix-nigrolineata</ref>.

Mottled owls are one of four species formerly of the genus ''[[Ciccaba]]''; genetics suggested a closer relationship to birds of the genus ''[[Strix]]'' than was previously believed, resulting in a change of classification.<ref>http://www.planetofbirds.com/strigiformes-strigidae-black-and-white-owl-strix-nigrolineata</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Owls]][[Category:Wood Owls]]

[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Owls]][[Category:Wood Owls]]