Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is declining due to forest loss throughout its range. The rate of decline has been estimated at 27% over three generations (28.8 years). The species is therefore listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as locally not uncommon (Konig et al. 1999).
Trend justification
The population is declining rapidly due to forest loss within its range (per Tracewski et al. 2016).
The species occurs in the Chaco and Monte regions of southern Bolivia, western Paraguay and north-central Argentina.
The species inhabits semi-open dry chaco forest with thorny scrub vegetation (Konig et al. 1999). Being forest-dependent, it avoids open, non-forested areas. It feeds primarily on small mammals (rodents and marsupials), bettles and scorpions (Santander et al. 2012).
The species is threatened by the conversion of the Chaco woodland for cattle ranching and agricultural expansion. Even though it tolerates a low level of habitat modification, it cannot persist in completely cleared, deforested areas (A. Bodrati and R. Torres in litt. 2018).
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES II. In Argentina, it occurs in several protected areas.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out playback surveys to determine the population size, territory size and occupancy, as well as the distribution range of the species (A. Bodrati in litt. 2018). Investigate its ecology and breeding biology. Assess the impact of forest loss and fragmentation on population size and movement of the species.
c.35-40 cm. White facial disk with dense concentric rings; crown with dark central band with white borders; body very barred; upperparts dark brown, tail rufous, underparts whitish; tarsus and toes fully feathered. Similar spp Longer wings and tail than S. rufipes, paler color. Voice Very loud croaking kru...kru...kru...krau...krau...; often duets, female slightly higher.
Text account compilers
Symes, A., Hermes, C., Westrip, J.
Contributors
Torres, R., Bodrati, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Chaco Owl Strix chacoensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/chaco-owl-strix-chacoensis on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.