Oraristix brea, the La Brea owl, is an extinct owl reported from the Upper Pleistoceneasphalt deposits of the La Brea Tar PitsinLos Angeles, California. It was first described in 1933 by Hildegarde HowardasStrix brea, but this extinct owl was recently placed into its own genus by Campbell and Bocheński (2010). The La Brea owl has also been found in the Upper Pleistocene asphalt deposits of Carpinteria, California. Oraristrix brea is interpreted as more terrestrial in habits than forest owls because, compared to North American species of Bubo and Strix, it had longer legs relative to its wingspan.
Hildegarde Howard (1933). "A new species of owl from the Pleistocene of Rancho La Brea, California". The Condor. 35 (2): 66–69. doi:10.2307/1363650. JSTOR1363650.
