The owls of Colombia

Abstract

We compiled existing information on the 28 owl species found in Colombia and evaluated information gaps. We found 23 species in the Andes and inter-Andean valleys, 15 in the Caribbean, 10 in the Pacific, 10 in the Orinoco region, 10 in the Amazon, and 4 in the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain system, including one undescribed species. With regard to conservation status, and following the BirdLife International, one species (Megascops colombianus) is considered as Near Threatened (NT) and another (Glaucidium nubicola) as Vulnerable (VU), while the remaining owl species are considered as Least Concern (LC). There are no speciesspecific management or conservation plans for any owl in Colombia, but most species are present in areas with some degree of governmental or private protection. According to our analysis, knowledge of the Strigiformes in the country is very limited, which posits the necessity of developing research and understanding about such basic aspects as geographical variability, population status, reproductive ecology, and behavior, among others. Indeed, without this information, it will be very difficult to discern the current status, population trends, or ecological requirements of owls in Colombia in particular and in the Neotropical region in general.