Archive for 'Strigidae'

Blakiston's Fish-Owl (Ketupa blakistoni)

Blakiston’s Fish-Owl (Ketupa blakistoni)

This is the largest living species of owl found anywhere on Earth! It has a wingspan of up to 190 cm (6 ft 3 in), a total length of up to 72 cm (28 in) and weighing up to 4.6 kg (10.1 lb). It is endangered due to human activities like the cutting down of […]

Blakiston's Fish-Owl (Ketupa blakistoni)

Blakiston’s Fish-Owl (Ketupa blakistoni)

This is the largest living species of owl found anywhere on Earth! It has a wingspan of up to 190 cm (6 ft 3 in), a total length of up to 72 cm (28 in) and weighing up to 4.6 kg (10.1 lb). It is endangered due to human activities like the cutting down of […]

Blakiston's Fish-Owl (Ketupa blakistoni)

Blakiston’s Fish-Owl (Ketupa blakistoni)

This is the largest living species of owl found anywhere on Earth! It has a wingspan of up to 190 cm (6 ft 3 in), a total length of up to 72 cm (28 in) and weighing up to 4.6 kg (10.1 lb). It is endangered due to human activities like the cutting down of […]

Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus)

Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus)

This very well camouflaged owl was sitting very close to the dirt road out of the Central Kalahari Game reserve, but did not leave its spot in the shade. At 8 in the morning the heat of the sun is already unbearable and most animals seek shelter. Some are nocturnal and take advantage of the […]

Crested Owl (Lophostrix cristata)

Crested Owl (Lophostrix cristata)

A fantastic experience to have this beautiful bird singing right outside my bedroom. I had hoped to be able to capture it and was hoping it was not frightened by my very slow movements to set up my camera. As often is the case with owls, it was not particularly disturbed, just a couple of […]

Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)

Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)

A wonderful encounter thanks to a local bird lover that knows where to find them. They are easily heard during night, but as with most owls hard to see during the day. This pair was quite active, and soon after this picture one took to the wings for a perch nearby. The individual to the […]

Collared owlet (Taenioptynx brodiei)

Collared owlet (Taenioptynx brodiei)

This very small owl (smaller than a common starling – just around 15 cm in length) is easy to miss if it doesn’t move, or stand out like it does here against the fog. It has striking pattern on the back of the head resembling another set of eyes, and if you look closer you’ll […]

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

The locked gate to the most remote part of Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is guarded by a family of burrowing owls. A nice welcome I think, but if you drive all the way out here, know that you must make an appointment with the park authorities through a local authorized guide. The park will […]

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

The burrowing owl is one of very few species of owl that is so available to humans. Many species do reside close to human structures and activities, but are nocturnal. You’ll only hear their calls, but visually you’ll only glimpse them in the light of a full moon or when the briefly fly through artificial […]

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

This is a common owl species in the Pantanal, and I suspect every farm has at least one breeding pair. This couple was tending to 3 juveniles, so the food seems plentiful here. Of course the location of their burrow is an important factor, as it’s right in the middle of a cross roads of […]

South American Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus nacurutu)

South American Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus nacurutu)

This was my only encounter with this species in Pantanal, but it had no intention of making it a brief one. As you can see it’s sitting with its back against me, and it didn’t change position due to my presence. It simply turned the other way to continue focusing on whatever it was. This […]

Striped Owl (Pseudoscops clamator)

Striped Owl (Pseudoscops clamator)

This is an impressive owl, and lucky for me human presence did not disturb it. This is what’s so amazing about Pantanal! You can get so close to so many species of birds and mammals here. Here it’s sitting on a dead branch on the banks of one of the many man made canals here […]

Galápagos Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus galapagoensis)

Galápagos Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus galapagoensis)

I had high expectations going to the south end of the island – only accessible by boat and a man made “staircase” (Prince Philip’s Steps) to the flat top of the island. I was told a healthy population of this specialized owl resides here. It started very well, by an exciting “look – the owl” […]

“San Isidro Owl” (Strix sp. nova)

“San Isidro Owl” (Strix sp. nova)

This is one famed family of owls! For years these owls have found their home very close to the houses and is seemingly found every night close to the “streetlights” where they hunt. I only had one night at Sand Isidro, but they did not fail. Both turned up and seemed to regard the humans […]