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FIELD NOTES

Jamaican Owl – Pseudoscops grammicus

The Jamaican Owl is very different from any owl found in North or Central America or the Caribbean. It is strictly nocturnal and not regularly seen even though it is fairly common in the right habitat. Often compared with the Short-eared Owl, it is slightly smaller, a different color, very different vocally, and has brown eyes which differs from the Short-eared Owl’s yellow eyes. Taxonomically it is grouped with the Striped Owl but it is also very different from this owl with different needs, appearance, and habitat. In behavior, this owl most reminds us of a forest screech-owl although it has a very different diet and hunting activity.

Identification

This owl is unlikely to be confused with any other that exists in Jamaica. The Barn Owl that is resident is slightly larger although lives in more open areas (like farmlands), is very white in comparison, and has no ear tufts. Jamaican Owl would be considered a smaller medium sized owl (11-13 in. in length). It is tawny colored (orange-brown) on its front side with darker brown streaks on its chest with faint crossbars and dark brown eyes.  The back-side is darker brown with black crossbars on the flight feathers and tail. The orangey color and dark eyes make this owl very distinctive. Jamaica’s only other resident owl is a Barn Owl and records of Short-eared Owl are very few which makes the ID of the Jamaican Owl quite simple.

Range and Habitat

Jamaican Owl is only found in Jamaica where the above “similar” species are not, although rare occurrences of Short-eared Owls have been reported.  It is widespread and fairly common in the forests of the lowlands and middle elevations although very rarely found at the mountain tops. It may also be found in populated areas such as in gardens with trees. In our searches along  Reach Road in the north-east it was fairly common just not always easy to see.

Diet

This owl has a diversified diet that seems to be made up of the small prey that is available. This includes large insects, spiders, geckos, lizards, small birds, frogs, crickets, beetles, cockroaches, rodents… etc. It also may take possums or phalangers (small  arboreal marsupials having a long tail and dense woolly fur). The variety in its known diet certainly makes Jamaican Owl an opportunistic hunter.

Breeding

The breeding biology of this owl is scarcely known. Scattered records with juvenile owls being recorded throughout the year exist. In general this species is thought to mainly breed during the dry season from December to April (records as late as June). Nests are found in tree holes, crotches of tree trunks and limbs, and dense epiphyte mats on branches. Reports of nesting high in trees at the edge of clearings. No actual nest building is thought to occur. Normal clutch size is thought to be only 1 to 2 eggs.

Conservation

This is always a tough topic. Since so little is known about this owl and since it’s range is only on the island of Jamaica, the species becomes a very unique one. IUCN/Birdlife lists this owl as “least concern”. With no accurate population estimates or trends and there being no data to show rapid declines in population it does not qualify for “vulnerable” status. The known downward trend in population is not enough to get strong protection efforts. Additionally the increasing Jamaican population and pressure on its wooded habitat due to deforestation further stresses this species. Adding in the superstitious beliefs of the people that owls are omens of death and bad fortune further escalates the jeopardy to this species. Its eerie sound (vocalization) at night certainly does not help alleviate the superstitious beliefs. Jamaica being smaller than Los Angeles county in area locks this non-migratory species into a very small area with a rapid human population growth and declining available habitat.