Comparison of spotted owl subspecies

3 images of owls are placed next to each other. On the left is the northern spotted owl, in the center is the California spotted owl, and on the right is the Mexican spotted owl. All three owls are brown with white spots, trending lighter from left to right.

Photo By/Credit

John and Karen Hollingsworth (NSO); Rick Kuyper (CSO); and Shaula Hedwall (MSO)/USFWS

Date Shot/Created

02/28/2023

Media Usage Rights/License

Public Domain

Image

There are three subspecies of spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) that live in the western United States – the northern spotted owl, the California spotted owl and the Mexican spotted owl, pictured here from left to right. (Northern spotted owl, Credit: John and Karen Hollingsworth/USFWS; California spotted owl, Credit: Rick Kuyper/USFWS; Mexican spotted owl, Credit: Shaula Hedwall/USFWS)

Facility

Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office

Species

Strix occidentalis occidentalis

Strix occidentalis lucida

Strix occidentalis caurina

Subject tags

Birds

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