Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Boreal Owl
Scientific name:	Aegolius funereus
Date:	August 5, 2024
Time:	Approximately 9:40 PM
Length of time observed:	10-15 minutes for visuals, much longer for hearing the vocalizations
Number:	8
Age:	One adult and seven juveniles (three separate groups combine for a total of seven juveniles)
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Beaver Creek Area of the Uinta Mountains. Three juveniles in the first group, at least two heard in a second group, and then two found in a third location.
County:	Wasatch
Latilong:
Elevation:	Approximately 9600’
Distance to bird:	10’ from the adult and about 30’ from the juvenile
Optical equipment:	Naked eye and mirrorless camera with zoom up to 600mm
Weather:	Cloudy, no moon nor wind, about 55F
Light Conditions:	Nocturnal, so flashlight was used
Description: Size of bird:	9-10” tall
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Owl
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	See detailed description below
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hooked
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	See photos of adult and juveniles. Adult had a large head with a tapered torso. Yellow eyes were relatively small in the large, mostly white facial disc. The dark rim of the facial disc was broken in several places by white spotting around the face. The underside was streaked brown/rufous. The top side showed typical pearl like white spots in the wings and back. The primary and tail feathers showed broken light banding. The bill was pale. The juvenile was brown overall with a sooty color on the front from the chest down toward the tawny vent. Adult-like feathers were forming some dark streaking and white spotting on the underside, which resembled suspenders of sorts. The dark facial disc was starting to show white feathers like an adult as well with some white spotting in the dark rim of the facial disc. The bill was pale. Eyes were yellow.
Song or call & method of delivery:	Begging calls from the juveniles, calling simultaneously from separate locations. Juvenile audio is attached to this record.
Behavior:	Begging and short flights by juveniles. The adults that was seen flew in briefly and left about thirty seconds later.
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 bellies. The facial discs have a bold white “V” shape of feathers between the bill and eyes. Juvenile Boreal Owls have thinner white eyebrows. The Northern Saw-whet juvenile begging call is more similar to an insect “tsit” or hiss sound rather than the harsh metallic-like screech of a juvenile Boreal Owl. Merlin Sound ID recognized the call as Boreal Owl.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I’ve encountered several groups of juveniles so far this season. I’ve observed over sixty adults in the past four years in three states.
References consulted:	Prior to observing these, I had studied Sibley and multiple Cornell resources, especially birdsoftheworld.org
Description from:	Memory and notes
Observer:	Terry Reid, James Loveless, and Jeff Cooper
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	8/7/2024
Additional material:	Photos and Audio
Additional comments:	Checklist from eBird: