A migratory owl, some
Long-eared Owls spend the winter in the southern desert area of
Arizona and northern Mexico. An owl of the high conifer forest
and woodland, this owl was photographed in a Phoenix surburban
back yard on June 28, 2005. Perhaps this owl was done with breeding
by late June and was already heading for her winter home. In any
case here she was safe in a backyard, sleeping through the day
in spite of grackels that kept up a constant din warning eveyone
that an owl was nearby. With evening coming she is seen here getting
ready to wake up and fly off for a busy night finding food and
looking for another safe roost location. Long-eared Owls are
often seen motionless sitting on the ground next to the trunk
of a tree. In the winter a flock of several Long-eared Owls will
roost together in one spot. Usually quick to fly off, this owl
was quite approachable. Perhaps it is used to being around people.
Long-eared Owls have been known to nest in trees in parks.
Here the side view
of the head shows off the beautiful feather "ear" tufts
and various white feathers that surround the facial disc. The
upper breast feathers always seem out of focus, even when the
focus is sharp
A migratory owl, some
Long-eared Owls spend the winter in the southern desert area of
Arizona and northern Mexico. An owl of the high conifer forest
and woodland, this owl was photographed in a Phoenix surburban
back yard on June 28, 2005. Perhaps this owl was done with breeding
by late June and was already heading for her winter home. In any
case here she was safe in a backyard, sleeping through the day
in spite of grackels that kept up a constant din warning eveyone
that an owl was nearby. With evening coming she is seen here getting
ready to wake up and fly off for a busy night finding food and
looking for another safe roost location. Long-eared Owls are
often seen motionless sitting on the ground next to the trunk
of a tree. In the winter a flock of several Long-eared Owls will
roost together in one spot. Usually quick to fly off, this owl
was quite approachable. Perhaps it is used to being around people.
Long-eared Owls have been known to nest in trees in parks.
Here the side view
of the head shows off the beautiful feather "ear" tufts
and various white feathers that surround the facial disc. The
upper breast feathers always seem out of focus, even when the
focus is sharp
Here is some detail
of the facial disc feathers.