The shoco is a burrowing owl found only on Aruba, a subspecies that lives nowhere else on Earth. Instead of nesting in trees, it takes over holes in the ground in open, sandy, low-scrub country. That habitat is exactly the kind of land that gets built on, which is why the population is now counted in the low hundreds rather than the thousands.
Your realistic chances are in open cunucu country: the scrubland around Arikok National Park, the flatter open ground toward the north and east of the island, and the rough edges around golf courses and quiet roads. Dawn and the hour before dusk are the times worth trying. Drive slowly, scan fence posts, low mounds, and rock piles, and look for a small upright shape about the height of a soda bottle.
This is a genuinely rewarding find precisely because it is not guaranteed, which makes it a good lesson in patience for a kid who is used to seeing animals on demand. Bring binoculars if you have them. Treat a non-sighting as a normal outcome, not a failure.
Meet Buska's own guide! The shoco is Aruba's beloved little owl that lives in underground burrows. Only a few hundred remain, so spotting one is a true trophy.
Shoco is the Papiamento name, and it is what everyone on the island calls this bird: you will see it on signs, license plates, and school logos. It is also the owl who guides kids through the Buska app.
Observe from a distance; never approach a burrow.
More finds nearby
Prikichi (Aruban Parakeet)Wild parakeets you'll hear long before you see them. Best before breakfast.
Blue Whiptail Lizard (Cododo)A turquoise lizard that lives on this island and nowhere else on Earth.
Conchi Natural PoolThe best swim on the island, and the hardest to reach. An honest look.
Turn the list into a treasure hunt
Buska gives kids 75 Aruban treasures to find and photograph (this one included) and turns the trip into a keepsake book. Free to start, no ads, private by default.