Owl ID?

[Angus]

I would put it's size, tip of tailfeathers to top of head at about 8 inches. Wasn't around when I fed cattle this morning.
Thanks for the links, have learned a lot about owls since posting !

Funny sidenote - When I went to the websites I clicked on some of the distress and alarm calls and they drove our cat insane !

[JBen]

Yep what WC said which is why I suggest you be careful where you post it. You could end up with a zoo you don't want. Only thing Id "differ" on is more than a zoo of Photogs will show up. 6 of one, half dozen another imo..

I have seen Barred's grounded in fields but not often and they don't stay there too long. They will fly back to perch in a tree. NHOs Ive seen in fields, but they to won't stay on the ground long.

So basically playing percentages.
It does look like a barred but would be small
I doubt its a Saw Whet. Ive never seen or heard of one out in the open like that. They bury themselves in cover for good reason and it seems a bit big.

NHO "maybe" but it seems off, would seem to be the right size.
SEO maybe/good bet..Im surprised its letting you get that close
Just on the eyes WC, its really hard to tell plus the lights a factor but the first image it does "appear" they are open and thats where I "wonder"/Question. Most owls you can pick the see the yellow, and barred just simply have those deep black orbs.

[William Cody]

Yep what WC said which is why I suggest you be careful where you post it. You could end up with a zoo you don't want. Only thing Id "differ" on is more than a zoo of Photogs will show up. 6 of one, half dozen another imo..

I have seen Barred's grounded in fields but not often and they don't stay there too long. They will fly back to perch in a tree. NHOs Ive seen in fields, but they to won't stay on the ground long.

So basically playing percentages.
It does look like a barred but would be small
I doubt its a Saw Whet. Ive never seen or heard of one out in the open like that. They bury themselves in cover for good reason and it seems a bit big.

NHO "maybe" but it seems off, would seem to be the right size.
SEO maybe/good bet..Im surprised its letting you get that close
Just on the eyes WC, its really hard to tell plus the lights a factor but the first image it does "appear" they are open and thats where I "wonder"/Question. Most owls you can pick the see the yellow, and barred just simply have those deep black orbs.

I don't think its a Hawk Owl as they have a very distinctive shape, different than all the other owls and can be picked out from a fair distance because of that. Its really hard to tell if the eyes are open or not but the bill on a Barred owl should be a fairly bright yellow and stand out for sure while the bill on a Short-eared is black and would blend in well as it does in the photo.

[jaycee]

Link FOR A Northern Hawk Owl;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_hawk-owl

[Sinker]

Short ear for sure. No doubt about it. My best buddy has one on his wall, and thats exactly what you have there. Ive never seen one in the wild. Cool bird!

S.

[Angus]

Been googling a bit and the Short Eared sure is the closest looking one to my visitor. It hasn't been back.

I gather short ears are fairly common?

[Roper]

I did not see where the original poster identified the height of the bird. How tall is it?
Saw whet around 6", Screech around 8", Short eared 10 - 12 inches. Short eared owls are more of a brown color.
The coloring in the picture seems to match a barred owl bang on.

[Angus]

I did not see where the original poster identified the height of the bird. How tall is it?
Saw whet around 6", Screech around 8", Short eared 10 - 12 inches. Short eared owls are more of a brown color.
The coloring in the picture seems to match a barred owl bang on.

Post #21 Roper. And I may have estimated on the short side by an inch or 2.

[JBen]

SEOs are common Angus. The problem (right word?) is that they are really hard to find and see during the day. Most commonly you will only see them at dusk as they start to hunt.

For example for the photographers that really want images of one and want to play percentages so they don't drive hours, sit around for hours and go home empty handed. Once a field has been identified where there is 1/some. They will arrive around 3pm, or an hour before sunset, hope for some images at last light, then pack up and go home.

[William Cody]

I gather short ears are fairly common?

They are not nearly as common as they used to be. A cut and paste from Bird Studies Canada.

Species of special Concern in Canada. Grasslands are one of the ecosystems that are the most at risk, and grassland bird populations have shown greater and more wide-spread declines than any other group of North American birds. Christmas Bird Count data shows a 3% annual decrease in the North American Short-eared Owl population, with the Canadian population suffering nearly a 25% decrease in the last decade alone.Short-eared Owls nest, rest, and feed in open areas such as fallow fields, hay fields, grasslands, airports, and meadows. Loss and degradation of these habitats are thought to be the major threat to Short-eared Owls.