Gymnoglaux lawrencii

Yet another genus endemic to Cuba, this owl's closest relatives are not certainly known, although vocally it seems close to Ciccaba. The AOU has recently returned the species to Gymnoglaux, after a period with the screech owls in Megascops (which genus in turn was previously considered within the otherwise Old World genus Otus). Bare-legged Owls are typically seen just poking their heads from a tree-trunk roost or nest site (as here), so we were also pleased to find a family of them in a cave at the Guanhacabibes Peninsula, permitting views of the bare 'shanks'.