This matchup brings us a set of very distinguished looking birds.
The Flammulated Owl developed a very rabid fan base last year, with you guys calling it the "Ent Owl" as it resembles a living tree. The owl's name refers to the smoldering ember patterns that only enhance its great looks. It is a small owl, slightly larger than the Elf Owl, but has a surprisingly deep hoot. They are a migratory species, leaving Canada and the western US in the winter to go down to Latin America. Flammulated Owls, like the Long Eared Owl, is another owl that actually doesn't mind being in groups of its own kind. They prefer pine forests and eat insects.
The Dusky Eagle Owl hails from India to Malaysia. It is a large owl, mostly nocturnal, but will come out during the day, especially if it is more cloudy. One interesting fact is they only nest in abandoned nests or one particular bird in 2 or 3 particular kinds of tree! I'd love to tell you more, but they are one if the least studied owls, so hopefully the mystery will add to its allure!
#superbowl #owloftheyear2024
I love that pattern too! I went to the park by my work with the Great Horned Owl the other day and she was right at the front and she's got the same thing, so I took some time to enjoy it.
The National Aviary was amazing. I got to hold a Screech Owl named Cedar, and I didn't know at the time, but the Eagle Owls had laid eggs that hatched while we were there, so there are 2 more now!
They had a Burrowing Owl also, who was very unhappy that I saw him. I'd been to a few places that supposedly had them before, but I'd never seen any of them. I'd like to see another one in a better mood, this one didn't seem to want company.