Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Mexican Spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Unlike most owls, Mexican spotted owls have dark eyes. They are an ashy-chestnut brown color with white and brown spots on their abdomen, back and head. Their brown tails are marked with thin white bands. Young owls less than 5 months old have a downy appearance. Females are larger than males

Lead Region:  Southwest Region (Region 2)
Date Listed: Mar 16, 1993

  • States/US Territories in which the Mexican Spotted owl is known to occur:  Arizona , Colorado , New Mexico , Texas , Utah
  • Countries in which the the Mexican Spotted owl is known to occur:  Mexico
  • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/MSO.htm

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 16 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
08/31/2004 69 FR 53181 53298 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl
11/18/2003 68 FR 65020 65023 Endangered and Threatened wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl; Proposed Rule; Reopening of Public Comment Period
02/01/2001 66 FR 8530 8553 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl
07/21/2000 65 FR 45336 45353 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl
03/25/1998 63 FR 14378 14379 ETWP; Revocation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl, Loach Minnow, and Spikedace

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
10/16/1995 Mexican Spotted Owl View Implementation Progress Final

» Critical Habitat

Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
08/31/2004 69 FR 53181 53298 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl Final Rule Active
11/18/2003 68 FR 65020 65023 Endangered and Threatened wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl; Proposed Rule; Reopening of Public Comment Period Proposed Rule Not Required
02/01/2001 66 FR 8530 8553 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl Final Rule Not Required
07/21/2000 65 FR 45336 45353 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl Proposed Rule Not Required
06/06/1995 60 FR 29913 29951 ETWP; Determination of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl Final Rule Not Required

To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

» Conservation Plans

Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
HCP Plan Summaries
Malpai Borderlands
Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
SHA Plan Summaries
Paterson, Thomas W. and Caroline H. (Spur Ranch)

» Petitions

Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 4 of 4 )
Date Citation Page Title Finding
04/01/1994 59 FR 15361 15367 ETWP; 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Remove the Mexican Spotted Owl From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 09/23/1993 58 FR 49467 49468 ETWP; Notice of 90-Day Finding on Petition to Remove the Mexican Spotted Owl From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 04/11/1991 56 FR 14678 14680 ETWP; 12-month Finding on Petition to List the Mexican Spotted Owl as Threatened or Endangered; 56 FR 14678 14680
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted
    • 03/28/1990 55 FR 11413 11414 ETWP; 90-day Finding on a Petition to List the Mexican Spotted Owl as Threatened or Endangered; 55 FR 11413 11414
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    Habitat Requirements

    Spotted owls are residents of old-growth or mature forests that posess complex structural components (uneven aged stands, high canopy closure, multi-storied levels, high tree density). Canyons with riparian or conifer communities are also important components. In southern Arizona and New Mexico, the mixed conifer, Madrean pine-oak, Arizona cypress, encinal oak woodlands, and associate riparian forests provide habitat in the small mountain ranges (Sky Islands) distributed across the landscape

    Food Habits

    Owls feed on small mammals, particularly mice, voles, and woodrats; and will also take birds, bats, reptiles and arthropods. This owl is a "perch and pounce" predator, using elevated perches to find prey items using sight and sound. They can take prey on the wing, particularly birds. Most hunting is at night, however, there are some reports of diurnal foraging.

    Movement / Home Range

    Mated pairs are territorial. The breeding season activity centers tend to be smaller than the non-breeding season activity area, with considerable overlap between the two. Adults may or may not leave the territory during the winter. Most adults remain on the same territory year after year. Juveniles leave their natal territory in September, and while they are capable of moving long distances, many successfully establish themselves nearby. Some juveniles will travel through a variety of vegetation communities until they settle down

    Reproductive Strategy

    Mated pairs of owls defend a breeding territory at least during the nesting season (March through August). Clutch size is small (generally 1 to 3 eggs), and eggs hatch in early May. A second clutch may be laid if the first fails. The females brood the young owlets almost constantly the first couple of weeks, then may be gone hunting for several hours a day. Owlets fledge at 4 to 5 weeks old (early to mid June), and leave the nest befor they can fly; moving to the tree branches or the ground while still under parental care. Dispersal from the nest area usually occurs from mid-September to early October. Mexican spotted owls breed sporadically, and not all birds nest every year. Local conditions, particularly for the prey base, may govern nesting success.

    Other

    Actions that open up or remove mature or old-growth forests (logging, wildfire, road or site construction that results in fragmentation of the forest) are detrimental to the local owl population. Human activity (hiking, shooting, off-road vehicle activity) in or near nesting, roosting, or foraging sites may result in abandonment of an area, and indirectly may affect habitat parameters from trampling, vegetation removal, or increased fire risk.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009