Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-57
| Common name: |
Boreal Owl |
| Scientific name: | Aegolius funereus |
| Date: | July 18, 2024 |
| Time: | Approximately 10:10 |
| Length of time observed: | Twenty minutes |
| Number: | 4 |
| Age: | One adult and three juveniles |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | |
| County: | Duchesne |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | Approximately 9900’ |
| Distance to bird: | 10’-20’ |
| Optical equipment: | Naked eye and mirrorless camera with zoom up to 600mm |
| Weather: | Cloudy, intermittent rain, approximately |
| Light Conditions: | Waxing gibbous moon (92%) |
| Description: Size of bird: | 9-10” tall, larger than Saw-whet |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Owl |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | See detailed description below |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Hooked |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
See provided photos. Juveniles were in various stages of molt, but they were dark brown overall, with white spotting and incomplete light banding throughout the wings, incomplete light bands in tail feathers, dark brown feathers as the base of the facial discs, pale bills, and sooty undersides with some tawny feathers in the vent area. Some had more adult-like white feathers starting to fill the facial disc and break up the upper corners of the dark, nearly black rim around the facial disc. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Typical begging call for juvenile Boreal Owl. Audio attached. The adult issued an alarm-type contact call |
| Behavior: | Begging and short flights |
| Habitat: | Mixed forest (pine, spruce, fir) |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Northern Saw-whets have black bills and the juveniles have two-toned undersides consisting of a dark brown upper chest and tawny or buffy bellies. The facial discs have a bold white “V” shape of feathers between the bill and eyes where the Boreal Owl juveniles have thinner white eye brows |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
This is the third night of the season for encountering juveniles of the species, but we’ve observed sixty or more adults of the species. |
| References consulted: | Prior to observing these, we studied Sibley and multiple Cornell resources, especially birdsoftheworld.org |
| Description from: | Memory and photos |
| Observer: | Terry Reid, James Loveless, Jeff Cooper |
| Observer's address: | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 8/7/2024 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | Checklist from eBird: |