Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Boreal Owl
Scientific name:	Aegolius funereus
Date:	August 26, 2024
Time:	Approximately 10:35
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	It appeared to be a hatch-year bird in mostly adult plumage, so perhaps around five months old
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Soapstone Creek Area of the Uinta Mountains
County:	Wasatch
Latilong:
Elevation:	Approximately 9300
Distance to bird:	15’
Optical equipment:	Naked eye, Vortex 10x50 binoculars, and Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera with 600mm lens
Weather:	Calm and about 49
Light Conditions:	Starlit sky with a last quarter moon low on the horizon with about 49% illumination. Flashlight used to observe and photograph the bird.
Description: Size of bird:	9-10” tall
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Owl
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	See photo.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hooked
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	See photo. Large-headed owl with mostly white/gray facial feathers, yellow irises, and a pale bill. Small white spotting on the forehead. The dark rim of the facial disc was broken in several places by white spotting around the face. The underside showed brown/rufous streaking and white spotting, much like a typical adult, but some tawny colored juvenile feathers remained on the belly. The top side showed typical pearl like white spots in the wings and on the back. The primary and tail feathers showed broken light banding
Song or call & method of delivery:	Refer to audio. This bird sounded similar to what I’ve heard from some females as they interacted with smaller males in close proximity during fall observations that I’ve made in the past several years. It made a soft “wert” sound that was sometimes followed by a soft, high-pitched “eep” note.
Behavior:	The bird remained perched except for a few short flights to a new location. It vocalized softly on several occasions.
Habitat:	Mixed high-elevation forest (spruce, fir, and scattered aspen)
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Northern Saw-whets have black bills, tawny/white facial discs, and fine streaking on the forehead. White spotting appears in a couple of rows, not randomly throughout the topside.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	This is the twenty-seventh confirmed hatch-year bird this season. I’ve observed over sixty adults in the past four years in three states.
References consulted:	None required for this observation based on previous experience
Description from:	Memory and images
Observer:	Jeff Cooper
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	9/4/24
Additional material:	Photos and Audio Photo and audio included in checklist and attached to email used to make this submission
Additional comments:	Checklist from eBird: