Protostrigidae

{{Short description|Extinct family of birds}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = Eocene to Oligocene

| image =

| image_caption =

| taxon = Protostrigidae

| authority =

| subdivision_ranks = Genera

| subdivision =

• Eostrix
• Minerva
• Oligostrix
• Primoptynx

| synonyms =

}}

Protostrigidae is a prehistoric family of owls which occurred in North America, Europe,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_TB72RBLLMC&q=Protostrigidae&pg=PA165|title=Paleogene Fossil Birds|author=Gerald Mayr|accessdate=22 October 2019|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|date=1 April 2009|isbn=9783540896289|pages=164–165}} and Asia{{cite web|url=http://phatfossils.com/pics/Eostrix%20gulottai/Eostrix%20gulottai.pdf|title=The world's smallest owl, the earliest unambiguous charadriiform bird, and other avian remains from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia (USA)|author=Geral Mayr|accessdate=22 October 2019|date=October 2016|publisher=Paläontologische Zeitschrift}} during the Eocene and early Oligocene periods. Genera include Eostrix, Minerva, Oligostrix, and Primoptynx.Primoptynx poliotauros:
Gerald Mayr, Philip D. Gingerich, Thierry Smith: [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2020.1769116 Skeleton of a new owl from the early Eocene of North America (Aves, Strigiformes) with an accipitrid-like foot morphology], in: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published online July 28, 2020; doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1769116.
[http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/primoptynx-poliotauros-08698.html 55-Million-Year-Old Fossil of Large-Sized Owl Found in Wyoming], on: sci-news, Jul 31, 2020. In 1983, Cécile Mourer-Chauviré demonstrated that Protostrix is a junior synonym of Minerva.

Protostrigidae characteristics include strong first and second toes as well as a widened medial condyle of the tibiotarsus.