Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-58
| Common name: |
Boreal Owl |
| Scientific name: | Aegolius funereus |
| Date: | July 17, 2024 |
| Time: | Approximately 9:20 PM |
| Length of time observed: | Twenty to thirty minutes |
| Number: | 5 |
| Age: | Juveniles |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Soapstone Basin Area (nearly ten miles from observations reported July 11, 2024) |
| County: | Wasatch |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | Above 9400’ |
| Distance to bird: | 10’-20’ for several birds. Others were heard only without knowing actual distance |
| Optical equipment: | Naked eye and mirrorless camera with zoom up to 600mm |
| Weather: | Clear skies, no wind, approximately 70F |
| Light Conditions: | Waxing gibbous moon (85%) |
| 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. Some individuals were in more advanced stages of
molt than others. All were dark brown overall, with white spotting and incomplete banding throughout the wings, incomplete white bands in tail feathers, dark brown 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. One bird had white feathers lining both sides of the bottom edge of the facial disc. (Photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
Typical begging call for juvenile Boreal Owl. Audio attached. (Audios) |
| 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 upper chest and tawny of buffy bellies. The facial discs have a bold white “V” shape of feathers between the bill and eyes rather than thinner white eyebrows seen on juvenile Boreal Owls. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
This is the second time 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: |