Need confirmation on owl species (USA) (1 Viewer)

HelenB

Opus Editor and Expat from Cumbria

Opus Editor

• Dec 1, 2003

• #1

We found this owl roosting in the top of an old barn on the afternoon of Sat. 28th Nov whilst visiting the Cedar Hill State Park near Dallas, Texas. Because of the position of the owl on the beams and the cobwebs, and also the fact that there was only a small opening in the end of the barn, we could only get a partial photo. The diagonal beams were probably 6-8 inches wide.

It is definitely not a Barn Owl, and from it's colouring we think most probably a Short-eared Owl. Thanks for any confirmation on this id.

 

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Last edited: Dec 1, 2003

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Dec 1, 2003

• #2

Hi, Helen. As a UK birder the first thought that entered my head was "Scops Owl". For you that would mean that it's one of the "Otus" owls: i.e. Flammulated Owl or one of the Screech Owls, but my knowledge doesn't go further than that.

Jason

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Dec 1, 2003

• #3

Dallas area, it'll be Eastern Screech Owl - out of range for the other Otus spp. Confirmed by its red-brown colour, Western tends to be much greyer.

Michael

 

Strix

Well-known member

• Dec 1, 2003

• #4

Yep, I'd say this is an Eastern Screech-Owl. Looks like it's naptime. Good find.

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Dec 1, 2003

• #5

This is an Eastern Screech Owl. Both "red" and "gray" phase occur within its range.

Larry

 

B

Beverlybaynes

Mod Squad

• Dec 1, 2003

• #6

Yep, a Screech to my eyes, too.

Another thing is that Short-Eared Owls do their roosting on the ground, in grass. Plus they are much more 'beige' than a red screech, with very distinctive faces -- very obvious facial discs. Really marvelous faces!

 

HelenB

Opus Editor and Expat from Cumbria

Opus Editor

• Dec 2, 2003

• #7

Thanks, everyone.
I had thought it was too big for a Screech, but the view up through the gap in the gable end of the barn didn't make it easy to see. I'm just glad the faithful Oly captured some decent shots. The flash really carried well into the gloom - much better in fact than the shots I tried with my Nikon CP 4500. It only has 4x zoom, so that 10x plus the flash, makes all the difference.

Here's a Nikon shot after some optimizing in ACDSee:

 

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