Strix hylophila
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The rusty-barred owl (Strix hylophila) is a medium-sized "typical owl" in subfamily Striginae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil (where it is known as the Brazilian owl), and Paraguay. The rusty-barred owl is one of seven members of genus Strix found in South America, according to the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). It appears to be most closely related to the Chaco owl (S. chacoensis) and rufous-legged owl (S. rufipes). All three have vocalizations that are very different from those of other Strix owls and genetic studies may find that they belong in their own genus. The rusty-barred owl is monotypic.
The rusty-barred owl is about 35 cm (14 in) long. Males weigh 250 to 340 g (8.8 to 12 oz) and females 275 to 395 g (9.7 to 14 oz). The species has light rusty brown facial discs with concentric darker brown rings and small white "eyebrows". Adults' upperparts have white, brown, and orange-buff barring. The chest and flanks are orangish buff and the belly is whiter; both areas have dark brown bars. The legs are feathered. The eyes are dark brown, the bill yellowish horn, and the toes yellowish gray. Juveniles are overall buff... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Itatiaia National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Iguazú National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 3 | Iguaçu National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Paulo | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Small Breeds Farm Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rusty-barred Owl sighting in Iguazú National Park on a given day, based on 92 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 250th most-seen of the 343 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rusty-barred Owl in Iguazú National Park on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 6 and 9 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Rusty-barred Owl sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Among the best
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Rusty-barred Owl sightings, Iguazú National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Itatiaia National Park (Brazil, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rusty-barred Owl is recorded against all the birds logged in Iguazú National Park (92 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
