Typical Owls (Strigidae)

Rufous-banded Owl (Strix albitarsis) - HBW 5, p. 205

French: Chouette fasciée German: Rötelkauz Spanish: Cárabo Patiblanco

Taxonomy: Syrnium albitarse Bonaparte, 1850, Bogotá.
This species, along with S. virgata, S. nigrolineata, S. huhula and sometimes Afrotropical S. woodfordii, often placed in separate genus Ciccaba on basis of differences in external ear structure compared with Strix, but DNA studies show that generic separation not warranted. Affinities uncertain; seems not to be closely related to other Neotropical Strix. Bolivian population sometimes separated as tertia. Species name often incorrectly spelt albitarsus. Monotypic.

Distribution: Andes from N Venezuela S to W & C Bolivia.