Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Boreal Owl
Scientific name:	Aegolius funereus
Date:	7/2/24
Time:	10:45 PM
Length of time observed:	10-20 seconds as it flew toward, above, and away from us
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Strawberry Ridge
County:	Utah
Latilong:	40°04'31.7"N 111°14'26.3"W
Elevation:	Approximately 8700-8800’
Distance to bird:	Twenty feet on average (closer and farther based on flying toward, above, and away from us)
Optical equipment:	Naked eye
Weather:	Calm, pretty clear skies, approximately 50 degrees
Light Conditions:	Nocturnal, so three of us had flashlights, with one having 3000 lumen power and over 600’ projection
Description: Size of bird:
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Descriptions are based on individual perceptions while the bird was illuminated by flashlights with varying degrees of warmth and brightness of lighting. From KC: I heard a call and turned on my light along with Jeff and Von. We all got our light on an owl bigger than a Saw-Whet flying around before diving back into the Aspens. It had a black and white streaked chest and belly. A white face. A large round head and face with a body that tapered at the waist. It had larger paddle like wings that were rounded. The face was white and round. After deliberation and watching a Saw Whet fly later, it started to become more clear that we had a Boreal. Jeff’s notes: It was obvious that this owl was noticeably larger/bulkier in flight than a Saw-whet. We exclaimed that sentiment spontaneously as we watched it fly under illumination. The wings were bulky and rounded at the tips. The underwings were light with brown spotting and banding, no dark comma marks that would be seen on the underwings of a Short or Long-eared Owl for example. The streaking on the underside was darker than the tawny streaking expected for and observed on a Saw-whet that we observed in the same location. While I didn't have a great look at the face as the bird flew, the facial disc appeared mostly white under illumination with no hint of tawny coloring. I was not able to observe and confirm the topside markings of the bird as it flew slowly above us before it looped back over and down into aspens on the Wasatch County side of the ridge. Von’s notes: I observed the bird arising from a low position behind me by 10 feet, flying up and over disappearing behind some aspens 60 feet away. It had strong quiet wing beats on rising then gliding away. My immediate wingspan estimate was 22 inches. The wings were broad with rounded tips.
Song or call & method of delivery:	We did not hear vocalization as it flew, but we heard multiple odd calls from the group of trees from which it emerged. KC heard a short, unusual call to prompt everyone to illuminate the bird as it flew from the trees in our direction.
Behavior:	Flying
Habitat:	High-elevation mix of aspen and conifer (spruce and fir)
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	We compared our notes for some time afterward, while still on the mountain, to see if we could talk ourselves out of Boreal Owl. We referenced field guides and online resources later. No other species lined up with the traits we observed. The size, shape, and marking of the underwing, the dark streaking on the underside, the light facial disc, location, and habitat eliminated other species that might present one or more of the field marks we observed--Boreal Owl was a perfect match. However, we considered and eliminated other species as follows. Northern Saw-whet Owl: The streaking on the chest was dark rather than tawny like a Saw-whet, facial disc lacked the tawny coloring of a Saw-whet, the size was noticeably larger, perhaps 20-25% by wingspan as it flew over us. Von verbalized at the time that he estimated a 22” wingspan. We had the benefit of photographing a Saw-whet and watching it fly in the same location, moments apart. We agreed that the target bird was noticeably bulkier as it flew over us. Flammulated would have been dwarfed by this bird and shown vermiculated gray patterns on the underside. Long and Short-eared would have more slender wings, not broad or paddle-like, and would show a dark comma at the wrist in the underwing, which our bird lacked. Our bird had brown spotting throughout what appeared to be a light/white base under strong illumination. We eliminated Great Horned based on size and our bird having a streaked rather than a barred chest and the lack of a dark comma at the wrist on the underwing. Barn owl does not show streaking on the underside and has a wingspan that would double what we observed. While it would be extremely unlikely, Northern Hawk Owl would have pointed wings and barring on the chest.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	This the second observation for Karen and Von, KC has seen five and heard at least five others. Jeff has observed more than fifty Boreal Owls in Utah, West Yellowstone, and Minnesota.
References consulted:	Sibley, WorldofBirds.org, Allaboutbirds.org
Description from:	Memory and what we shared with each other right after the observation
Observer:	Karen and Von Welch, KC Childs, Jeff Cooper
Observer's address:	Utah County [vonfwelch@gmail, orembirder@gmail.com, jeffcooper7@gmail.com]
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	7/5/24
Additional material:	No photos for this observation.
Additional comments:	eBird checklists: https://ebird.org/checklist/S185177763 https://ebird.org/checklist/S185185369 https://ebird.org/checklist/S185182938