ID help for owl - Larimer

[ronbco]

I was at Lon Hagler Res in Larimer County late in the day. There are plenty of trees on the west end. An owl was in a cottonwood. I had a clear view of it for a few seconds before it started awkwardly finding a different perch more hidden. Generally, the only owl sp one would expect here is Great Horned. But this was not that. No ear tufts, Quite a stout body including neck. Wings were grey and unmarked on the top sides. They were very broad and long. The bird turned and faced me once while I had bins on it and the face was a disk, but not heart-shaped, with big bright yellow eyes and striking coloring on the face.

So, wrong face and coloring for barn owl, and plus it was no where near dark yet.

No ear tufts, so not long-eared, and more bulky than GH.

All I can conclude is Short-eared. But that would be pretty unusual in this location?

Thanks

Ron Bolton

Berthoud

[Tony Leukering]

Ron:

The bird is probably a recently fledged Great Horned Owl (like this one in British Columbia ( ML99368691 - Great Horned Owl - Macaulay Library) and this one in Colorado ( ML635710085 - Great Horned Owl - Macaulay Library). The species begins sitting on eggs in winter and fledge youngsters in spring.

Enjoy,

Tony Leukering

Cut Bank, MT

[ronbco]

Thank you. I agree and have changed my ebird checklist. Admittedly, I have been hoping for a good look at a Barn Owl, and originally wished it so. I've seen young GH once before when they had no flight feathers. Though the body on this one looked a bit too fluffy, the wing feathers were fully formed, huge, and uniform grey. That was what probably threw me off. I suppose the awkward movement in the tree to change branches also should have been a clue. Still learning.