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Eastern Screech Owl (21)

Otus asio

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

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Date taken: Sep 11 2023

Details: adult

Ottawa - The photo was taken after sunset with nearby street lamps offering a small boost to the darkening light. I don't use flash. Owl pupils open wider than other birds giving them a totally different look at night – huge eyes that are solid black.

Date uploaded: Sep 12 2023

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Eastern Screech Owl (21)

Otus asio

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Details: male, adult

Ottawa - This is a known bird, quite used to people, although this was my first visit in a few years. It roosts a short distance from the nest site which the female is currently occupying. When I shot the photo, the bird was cautiously watching a mother raccoon and two kits high in a tree 8 metres away. They had just emerged for a night ramble. After a couple of minutes it launched towards the raccoons and flew right at the mother's head with wings open, likely dragging his claws on her fur as he flew by, it was that close. After a couple of minutes he repeated the attack and five minutes later did it again, each time engaging her head. It was pretty dark at that point so I didn't see the final outcome but the issue is that raccoons are one of the prime predators for Screech Owl nests.

The shots were taken as darkness was setting in so this was at only 1/10 second on tripod using a remote and ISO was up to 3200 (I don't have a mirrorless camera so ISO is an issue). Many of the shots incredibly were in focus and looked not bad. I got lucky.

Date uploaded: Apr 24 2022

Comments (5):
Chris: What a story! Great job in the conditions! Out here, I’ve yet to see or hear a western screech, and a biologist told me there were none found in the entire Vancouver region…only one far east of the city during a detailed census.
BrianMorin: I wonder if the expansion of Barred Owls has done them in. That would be a primary predator for a Screech Owl.

Eastern Screech Owl (21)

Otus asio

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Nov 20 2021

Details: adult

Ottawa - There are very few red morph Screech Owls in the eastern part of the province so when this bird appeared after a one-day showing of another bird last winter it was eagerly welcomed. Looking back at my photos from January, the facial markings are quite different.

Date uploaded: Nov 23 2021

Comments (6):
Ahmad Shah: Magnificent capture.
BrianMorin: The bird is just off a side road and high enough that it doesn't react to visitors. We had to wait quite a while though to see its eyes open. It had just done a head scratch with its foot.

Eastern Screech Owl (21)

Otus asio

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

Date taken: Jan 31 2021

Details: male, adult

Ottawa - If you check the photo I posted the other day, you will notice that this red morph is in the same hole. Apparently this morning the gray was in the hole and the red came by and the gray flew out, surrendering the hole to this bird. Could they be a pair? Yes that's possible. This is not nesting season but they could be paired up. Only 10% of the population is red and in the Eastern part of the province they are fairly rare. I just did a comparison with the other photo and aside from the gray bird being fluffed up to keep warm, it is standing a bit taller on what is presumably the same perch as the red morph. Female raptors are larger than males. The colour has nothing to do with the bird's sex.

Date uploaded: Feb 1 2021

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