Strix (bird)

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Genus of birds

title: "Strix (bird)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["strix-(genus)", "bird-genera", "animal-taxa-named-by-carl-linnaeus"] description: "Genus of birds" topic_path: "general/strix-genus" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strix_(bird)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Genus of birds ::

| name = Strix owls | fossil_range = Early Miocene to recent | image = Strix nebulosaRB.jpg | image_caption = Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa | taxon = Strix | authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | type_species = Strix stridula = Strix aluco | type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. | synonyms = Ciccaba Wagler, 1832

Macabra Bonaparte, 1854

Myrtha Bonaparte, 1854

Nyctimene Heine & Reichenow, 1890

Ptynx Blyth, 1840

Stryx Pallas, 1771 (unjustified emendation)

Tybo Heine, 1890

Tyto Heine & Reichenow, 1890 | synonyms_ref =

Strix is a genus of owls in the typical owl family (Strigidae), one of the two generally accepted living families of owls, with the other being Tytonidae. Common names are earless owls or wood owls, though they are not the only owls without ear tufts, and "wood owl" is also used as a more generic name for forest-dwelling owls.

These are medium-sized to large, robustly built, powerful owls. They do not have ear tufts and most are highly nocturnal woodland birds. Most prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Most owls in the genus Strix can be distinguished from other genera of owls through their hooting vocalization and lack of visible ears.

The Latin genus name Strix referred to a mythical vampiric owl-monster believed to suck the blood of infants. Although the genus Strix was established for the earless owls by Linnaeus in 1758, many applied the term to other owls (namely the Tyto) until the late 19th century.Mlíkovský, Jirí (2002): Cenozoic Birds of the World, Part 1: Europe . Ninox Press, Prague. p.217 This genus is closely related to the extinct Ornimegalonyx.

Taxonomy

The genus Strix was introduced by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. The type species is the tawny owl. The genus name is a Latin word meaning "owl".

Some Neotropical species were formerly classified in a separate genus, Ciccaba, which was eventually merged based on the placement of its type species, Strix huhula.

Species

The genus contains 22 species:

Fossil species

The genus Strix is well represented in the fossil record. Being a fairly generic type of strigid owl, they were probably the first truly modern Strigidae to evolve. However, whether several of the species usually placed in this genus indeed belong here is uncertain.

Generally accepted in Strix are:

  • S. dakota (Early Miocene of South Dakota, USA) – tentatively placed here
  • Strix sp. (Late Miocene of Nebraska, USA)
  • Strix sp. (Late Pliocene of Rębielice Królewski, Poland) apparently similar to the great grey owl
  • Strix intermedia (Early - Middle Pleistocene of EC Europe) – may be paleosubspecies of S. aluco
  • Strix brea (Late Pleistocene of SW North America) Now placed in its own genus. (See below)
  • Strix sp. (Late Pleistocene of Ladds, USA)

"Strix" wintershofensis (Early/Middle Miocene of Wintershof West, Germany) and "Strix" edwardsi (Middle Miocene of Grive-Saint-Alban, France), while being strigid owls, have not at present been reliably identified to genus; they might also belong into the European Ninox-like group.

"Strix" ignota (Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) is sometimes erroneously considered a nomen nudum, but this assumption is based on what appears to be a lapsus or misprint in a 1912 source. It may well belong into the present genus, but this requires confirmation.

"Strix" perpasta (Late Miocene – Early Pliocene of Gargano Peninsula, Italy) does not appear to belong into this genus either. It is sometimes considered a junior synonym of a brown fish-owl paleosubspecies.

UMMP V31030, a coracoid from Late Pliocene Rexroad Formation deposits of Kansas (USA), cannot be conclusively assigned to either the present genus or Bubo.

Extinct forms formerly in Strix:

References

References

  1. . ["Strigidae"](https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=72). *The Trust for Avian Systematics*.
  2. "IRMNG - Strix Linnaeus, 1758".
  3. Jobling, James A. (2010). "The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names". Christopher Helm.
  4. Linnaeus, Carl. (1758). "Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis". Laurentii Salvii.
  5. (1940). "Check-List of Birds of the World". Harvard University Press.
  6. Jobling, James A.. (2010). "The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names". Christopher Helm.
  7. "ITIS - Report: Ciccaba".
  8. (January 2021). "Owls". International Ornithologists' Union.
  9. Paris (1912: p.287) referred to Milne-Edwards (1869–1871: p.499) as the [[Taxonomy (biology). taxonomic]] authority, but the cited page only describes this owl but does not assign a [[specific name (zoology). specific name]]. However, the name ''Strix ignota'' is given on p.580 of Milne-Edwards's work referring unequivocally to the fossils described on page 499.
  10. [[Storrs Olson. Olson, Storrs L.]] (1985): Section IX.C. Strigiformes. ''In:'' Farner, D. S.; King, J. R. & Parkes, Kenneth C. (eds.): ''Avian Biology'' '''8''': 129–132. Academic Press, New York. p.131
  11. Feduccia, J. Alan. (1970). "Some birds of prey from the Upper Pliocene of Kansas". [[The Auk]].

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