OWLS
Northern Pygmy Owl ( Glaucidium gnoma )
This owl has a long, dark brown tail with pale bars.
The underparts are either rusty-brown or gray-brown. The crown is spotted. Its eyes are yellow. Black nape spots look like eyes as in the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl.
It inabits dense woodlands in foothills and mountains. It nests in cavities.
It is an aggressive predator, sometimes catching birds larger than itself. Ranges over western North America and Mexico.
Reddish-brown above and white below with reddish streaks,
a dark bill and reddish facial disks without the dark border help to identify this owl. This owl inhabits dense coniferous or mixed forests, wooded swamps and tamarack bogs.
It preys on small rodents. Ranges over most of the U.S. and southern areas of Canada.
Short Eared Owl ( Asio flammeus )
This owl is tawny and boldly streaked on its breast. The belly is paler more lightly streaked. Its ear tufts are barely visible.
An owl of open country, marshes, tundra and weedy fiels. It nests on the ground. It roosts on short poles open, low perches, muskrat houses or duck blinds.
It preys on small rodents and birds. Ranges over most of North America.
A large white owl with a rounded head and yellow eyes. Dark bars and spots are heavier on the females, heaviest on young birds.
Old males may be pure white. This is an owl of the tundra. It nests on the ground. It preys chiefly on Lemmings. A few are seen annually as far south as the Canada / U.S. border. They may winter as far south as northern Alabama,
Oklahoma and central California