Strix huhula
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The black-banded owl (Strix huhula) is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. Entirely nocturnal, this midsized black and white neotropical bird is a resident species, and therefore never migrates out of its native South America. Its natural habitats are varied subtropical or tropical forests ranging from lowlands to areas of medium altitude, and it has been found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The black-banded owl is medium-sized (30–36 cm (12–14 in)), blackish all over and densely striated with horizontal, wavy, white bars. A black face mask encircle its eyes. It has a rounded head with no ear tufts, and a yellow-orange bill and feet. The tail is sooty-brown, with 4 to 5 narrow white bars and a white terminal band. Primary feathers are significantly darker than the rest of its plumage. Black bristles and feathers are found around the bill and along the leg to the base of the toes.
The taxonomy of the black-banded owl is unclear on several points. Some authors include it in the genus Ciccaba, (medium-sized wood owls found in South-America) along with the black-and... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 2 | Serra dos Órgãos National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 4 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 5 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 6 | Iguazú National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoológico de Brasília | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | Small Breeds Farm Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Banded Owl sighting in Tambopata National Reserve on a given day, based on 52 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 390th most-seen of the 550 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.
May
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Banded Owl in Tambopata National Reserve on a given day, against under 5% in June to April, the lowest months.
Between 6 and 9 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Banded 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.
5th of 6
Of the 6 parks where we can rate Black Banded Owl sightings, Tambopata National Reserve ranks 5th at under 5%. The best odds are in Manu National Park (Peru, about 10%), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (Brazil, under 5%) and Amacayacu National Natural Park (Colombia, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Banded Owl is recorded against all the birds logged in Tambopata National Reserve (52 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.
