Our Habitat begins a series on Jamaica’s endemic birds this week, as part of Earth Day celebrations, which sees at at least one local environmental group – the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) – looking at how climate change impacts birds.

There is seemingly no end to the horror stories surrounding the Jamaican owl, which is also referred to locally as a Pattoo or “duppy bird”. Fact about the species, thankfully, is far from fiction.

It is a medium-sized tawny coloured owl, with dark brown barring, flecking and streaks. Its amber facial disk is rimmed in black-flecked white. It has hazel eyes, long ear tufts and a grayish-yellow bill.

It is among the 30 species of endemcci birds found in Jamaica.

Diet

It is noctunal and consumes mainly large insects, spiders, lizards and rodents.

Habitat

The Jamaican owl may be found inside the Blue and John Crow Mountains.

Threats

The main threat to the Jamaican owl, which is seldom seen today, is habitat loss due to human settlements.