450. Notes on the vocalizations of Mottled Owl (Ciccaba virgata)

In the following text, I briefly analyze and compare the voice of the different races of Mottled Owl (Ciccaba virgata). I also try to quantify the extent of any vocal differences using the criteria proposed by Tobias et al. (2010), as a basis for taxonomic review. I have made use of sound recordings available online at Xeno Canto (XC) and the Macaulay Library (ML). The available recordings suggest that there are two distinct vocal groups. Group 1. Song is a series of typically 4–9 short emphatic sharply overslurred hoots. This voice can be heard in Middle America, Pacific South America (south to NW Peru) and NW South America, as illustrated in the following examples grouped by (presumed) subspecies: squamulata