Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Asio flammeus galapagoensis (Gould, 1837)

Lechuza de campo, Short eared Owl

Asio flammeus galapagoensis Pontoppidan, 1763, Genovesa Island, Galapagos. Photo: Paul McFarling, CDF, 2008.
Asio flammeus galapagoensis Pontoppidan, 1763, Genovesa Island, Galapagos. Photo: Paul McFarling, CDF, 2008.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Aves

Order
Strigiformes

Family
Strigidae

Genus
Asio

Species
flammeus

Subspecies
galapagoensis

Taxon category: Species with Infraspecific Taxa

Syn.: Asio flammeus Pontoppidan, 1763; Asio galapagensis

Origin: Endemic

Status

Endangered

Ecology

Feeding type: Avivorous

Trophic role: Carnivorous

Reproduction mode: Exclusively sexual

Distribution

Distribution: From all the main islands except Wolf.

References

  • Bisconti, M. Landini, W., Bianucci, G., Cantalamessa, G., Carnevale, G. Ragaini, L. & Valleri, G. (2001) Biogeographic relationships of the Galapagos terrestrial biota: parsimony analyses of endemicity based on reptiles, land birds and Scalesia land plants. J. Biogeogr. 28: 495-510.
  • Castro, I. Phillips, A. (1996) A Guide to the Birds of the Galapagos Islands. Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd., London.
  • Freile, J.F. Santander, T., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., Carrasco, L., Cisneros-Heredia, D., Guevara, E., Sánchez-Nivicela, M., Tinoco, B. (2019) Lista Roja de las aves del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador. 97 pp.
  • Harris, M.P. (1973) The Galápagos avifauna. Condor 75(3): 265-278.
  • Hickin, N. (1979) Animal life of the Galapagos. Ferundune Books, Faringdon, U.K., 236 pp.
  • IUCN (2015) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 November 2015.
  • Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Betancourt, F. (2008) Avifauna vs automotores. Informe Galápagos 2007-2008. FCD, PNG & INGALA. Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. p. 111–114.
  • Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Milstead, B., Márquez, C., Zabala, J., Buitrón, P., Llerena, A., et al. (2007) Galapagos vertebrates: endangered status and conservation actions. Galapagos Report 2006–2007. Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, p. 104–110.
  • Rothschild, W. Hartert, E. & Jordan, K. (1899) A review of the ornithology of the Galapagos Islands with notes on the Webster-Harris Expedition. Novitates Zoologicae 6(2): 85-286.
  • Salvin, O. (1876) On the avifauna of the Galápagos Archipelago. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 9: 447-510.
  • Swarth, H.S. (1931) The Avifauna of the Galapagos Islands. Occ. Pap. Calif. Acad. Sci. 18: 1-299.
  • Trillmich, F. (1992) Conservation problems on Galápagos: the showcase of evolution in danger. Naturwissenschaften 79: 1-6.
  • Wiedenfeld, D.A. (2006) Aves, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Check List 2006 2(2): 1-27.

You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.

This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Asio flammeus galapagoensis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5036. Accessed 3 April 2026.