Ecology

Mexican spotted owls have a particular call that is low-pitched with a distinct pure tone which is an adaptation that allows them to engage in long-distance communication within areas that have dense vegetation. Aside from being nocturnal hunters of small rodents like mice and woodrats, these owls are also "perch and pounce predators". This means that they sit on elevated perches and use sight or sound to detect their prey, and then they pounce on their prey while using their sharp talons to capture it. Unlike most owl species, they are loyal mate partners for life. Mated pairs remain together for a long period and more so throughout the nesting season(typically takes place March-August) during which the male does most of the foraging while the female focuses on incubating her eggs. Not only are they faithful to each other, but also to their breeding territory which they defend and often return to the same territory for many subsequent years, Female owls generally have a small clutch of approximately 1-3 eggs and they nurture their young ones even after they fledge at 4 or 5 weeks of age. Mexican spotted owls breed sporadically which is an adaptive strategy that enables them to produce vital offspring with a high chance of survival by having increased reproduction during time periods in which conditions are favorable.

https://www.nps.gov/articles/mexican-spotted-owl.htm

Withing their large home range, Mexican spotted owls reside in a variety of habitats that are specific to nesting, roosting, and foraging. They like to nest in areas that have complex forest structures that contain mixed-conifer or pine-oak forests with old-growth trees that are multistoried and have a high canopy cover. Some examples include Douglas fir trees, Ponderosa pines, Evergreen oaks, and limber pines. They can also occupy nest and roost sites in rocky-canyon habitats that are characterized by areas with riparian vegetation and desert scrub where they build their nests in caves and roost on cliff ledges. Mexican spotted owls typically choose to forage in habitats that have an abundant amount of prey, with woodrats being the most common. They tend to forage in more broad areas with woodlands, pine forests, and riparian communities. 

Although the majority of Mexican spotted owls stay in one territory throughout the year, some owls migrate down southward during the winter. This movement to lowland areas coincides with a change in elevation. However, further research is necessary to determine the specific types of habitats that they reside in following their migration. 

https://www.coniferousforest.com/mexican-spotted-owl.htm

https://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/projects/ecology-mexican-spotted-owl

Description

The Mexican Spotted Owl is notably one of the three subspecies of spotted owls with the other two including the Northern Spotted Owl and the California Spotted Owl.  Unlike its two counterparts, the Mexican spotted owl is recognized as one of the largest owls in North America due to having an average length of 16-19 inches, a wingspan of 42-45 inches, and an average weight of about 19.5-23 ounces. One interesting feature of this species is that females are actually larger than males, however both exhibit a similar physical appearance. While stumbling upon one of these astonishing birds, you may find yourself captivated by its large dark eyes, a characteristic that distinguishes it from other owls .The Mexican spotted owl lacks ear tufts and is a chestnut brown color with irregular white spots scattered throughout its back, abdomen, and head. The white spots are larger in size and more abundant in comparison to the other two subspecies which causes the Mexican spotted owl to appear much lighter. The wings and tail feathers are dark brown and are marked with  thin white bands.

https://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/science-spotlights/ecology-mexican-spotted-owls-sacramento-mountains-new-mexico