Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Unknown age, Unknown sex - 1
- Behaviors
- Flying
- Playback
- Playback not used
Media notes
This poor video is probably not identifiable on its own, but shows a few wingbeats before the owl drops behind the dune.
Observation details
Rare. Flushed ahead of us four times as we hiked up the swale together. Initially identified as either a Long-eared Owl or Short-eared Owl by buoyant, floppy flight style, relatively slender body (vs. GHOW), relatively long and narrow wings (vs. GHOW), with a buffy patch at the base of the dorsal side of the primaries. On the third flush, I had much better views thanks to Brianna loaning me her binoculars, and saw that the bird was nearly white below with dark streaks from the flanks to the breast (probably a male?), and then it turned toward me and I saw bright yellow eyes contrasting with dark surroundings on a pale face, and a black bill. Below, the wings were nearly white with black tips and a black "comma" at the base of the primaries. I used my point-and-shoot camera to make a short video as it flew away; it shows the flight style for a few wingbeats but is probably not diagnostic on its own. Subspecies group assumed by range, the only group expected in the western United States. Last seen from (32.527237,-113.663276). Only three previous records from Yuma County in eBird. My first of the species in Arizona. This area is accessible with a permit from the US Marine Corps. Four-wheel drive is necessary to safely travel the sandy roads.
Technical information
- Camera
- Olympus TG-7
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 24.19 MB