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Eastern Screech-Owl
Otus asio
The Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio) occurs across most of the eastern United States southward through the eastern half of Texas into northeast Mexico. It inhabits a wide range of habitats and elevations and occurs in two basic color morphs; red (or brown) and gray. This species has a very different vocalization from Western Screech-Owl and displays a green or yellowish bill as opposed to the Western's black bill. The bird in the top two images shown here was photographed at a private ranch in Kenedy Co., Texas in June, 2000 with a Canon EOS 1N & EF 600mm F/4 L lens with a flash used as fill. The film was Fuji Velvia. Note the close resemblance of the bird's plumage to the mesquite bark showing how easily the bird can be camouflaged. There was a strong wind blowing at the time causing the "ear" tuffs to blow to one side. The third shot shows another Eastern Screech-Owl, also in April, 2000, which was perched on a set of deer antlers on the porch of a ranch house in Kenedy Co., Texas. This particular owl had discovered a convenient way to stay out of the rain!
The image at right is from September, 1995, also in Kenedy Co., Texas. This was a shot on Fuji Sensia film with a Canon T-90 and FD 400mm F/4.5 lens.
The Eastern Screech-Owl shown here was at Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, in February, 1999. These birds are masters of camouflage. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1N and EF 300mm F/2.8 L lens and 2X extender on Fuji Provia film.
The shot shown here shows an Eastern Screech-Owl inside a nest hole in a Palm tree in McAllen, Hidalgo Co., Texas, in February, 1999. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1N and EF 300mm F/2.8 L lens and 2X extender on Fuji Provia film.
The next shot was taken in May, 2006, in Hidalgo Co., Texas showing another Eastern Screech-Owl in a hole in a palm trunk. This was a digital capture with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The Eastern Screech-Owl shown here was using a man-made nest box in Bastrop Co.,Texas, in March, 2006. The same gear as the shot above was used.
The sleepy Eastern Screech-Owl shown here was in a cavity in a dead mesquite limb near Rio Grande City, Starr Co., Texas, in November, 2007. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens.
The next two shots of an Eastern Screech-Owl were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in January, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens. This owl is occupying an "Owl Shack" which is made by Cliff and Julie Shackelford in Nacogdoches, Texas. If interested, check out their web site at:http://www.owlshack.com/index.html