Identification Help Needed - What type of owl

tshaddick · April 10, 2013

Wondering if someone could tell me whether this owl is a great horned owl or long eared owl, unfortunately I haven't seen enough of either to determine the difference. It's not very big (closer to the size of a short eared owl, vs big like a great grey owl). I would think long eared owl because of it's size and the large tufts, but the face looks more like a great horned (and I know they can also have large tufts).

Thank you in advance.

wave01 · April 11, 2013

Hi i think its a long eared owl

teamracephotos · April 12, 2013

I think Great Horned. Great pictures either way.

DonRicklin · April 12, 2013

A raptor rehabber at work says, if it is roughly short eared sized then it is more likely a long eared owl than a great horned which usually much larger.

Don

CAPTURED2H · April 12, 2013

if you look at the eye pattern ,it looks more like a great horned . size ? age ?

tshaddick · April 12, 2013

Thanks for all your responses, I'm glad that it was not an obvious answer (judging by the responses so far). He and his partner have a nest, so I guess I will figure it out for sure when I see the chicks out of the nest.

CAPTURED2H - I have no idea what the age of the owl is, but old enough to be mating. As for the size I would say its bigger than a hawk through the body (and obviously the head), but not a lot bigger. I was just out photographing Great Grey's tonight, and they are far bigger than this guy above. That's why I was leaning toward long-eared, but I agree the face/eyes lead me to great horned.

I guess time will tell when I see the chicks...at least I hope.

Ann McRae · April 16, 2013

I'm leaning toward Great Horned as well. For comparison purposes,

http://www.windermerestudios.ca/Nature/birds/Alberta-Birds/28913168_8tCfcZ#!i=1709504770&k=W2VsjP6&lb=1&s=A

and

http://www.windermerestudios.ca/Nature/birds/Alberta-Birds/28913168_8tCfcZ#!i=71821944&k=33CxXzz&lb=1&s=A

both are Great Horned Owls.

ann

Identification Help Needed - What type of owl

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