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Flammulated Owl
Otus flammeolus
The Flammulated Owl (Otus flammeolus) is widespread in summer through a large section of the Rocky Mountains from the southern edge of British Columbia south to the Mexican border. It also occurs in Mexico and ranges as far south as El Salvador. It is an inconspicuous bird unless you know its soft single or double "boot" call. The species is strictly nocturnal in habits and spends the daytime quietly roosting in a cavity or in some other protected area. The first two shots at right were taken in June, 2005, in the Davis Mountains of west Texas. These two shots were digital captures with a Canon EOS 1 Mark II and an EF 600 mm f/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender and 580 flash.
The individual shown here was photographed in the Davis Mountains of Texas in June, 1991, with a Canon T-90 and FD 400mm F4.5 lens with a Fresnel flash on Kodachrome 64 on a BushHawk shoulder mount.
The species sometimes shows up at odd places; the individual here was found standing on a tractor tire in Galveston, Texas in November, 1989, well away from its expected range. It was in a weakened condition and was turned over to a wildlife rehabilitator. The bird was released in New Mexico the following spring and reportedly flew away strongly.