<p>Urbanization typically reduces bird richness. However, the presence of green areas within cities and peripheral rural areas may provide microhabitats for some disturbance-sensitive birds such as owls. This study investigates the occupancy and habitat associations of the mottled owl (<i>Strix virgata</i>) along an urban gradient in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. We employed different sampling techniques, including playback surveys and listening periods, to detect the presence of owls. Environmental data such as temperature, wind, noise, site illumination, lunar illumination, cloud cover, and vegetation types were used to analyze the habitat associations of mottled owls and to examine the influence of urbanization on their presence. In total, we detected 68 mottled owls in 54 sites across all urban gradient, with higher detection rates observed in areas with greater forest cover. The global occupancy of the mottled owl was 0.67 with a probability of detection of 0.46. Detection was best explained by noise and cloud cover: occupancy was best explained by forest and urban cover. High noise levels and cloud cover reduces the probability of owl detection. Forested areas positively influenced mottled owl occupancy, while urbanization had a negative impact. This study provides valuable insights into the habitat associations of the mottled owl in urban areas and highlights the need for further research on owl ecology in Mexico. Future research should focus on assessing fine-scale owl movements using GPS telemetry to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the influence of different factors on owl occupancy.</p>