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Written by an evolutionary biologist/ornithologist who writes about E3 -- Evolution, Ecology and Ethology -- and the subtle relationships between these phenomena, especially in birds.
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« The Science of Cuteness | Main | Cute Overload »
Topic Categories: Birding • Education • Mystery Birds • Ornithology • Photography • Teaching
Posted on: March 6, 2009 9:59 AM, by "GrrlScientist"
tags: Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, photographed at Fort Pierre National Grasslands in South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Terry Sohl, 9 December 2005 [larger view].
Photo taken with a Canon 50D, 400 5.6L.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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Comments
Cool. It has afterburners.
Posted by: Anon | March 6, 2009 10:22 AM
That's a Short-eared Owl, I'm pretty sure. It's kind of funny to me that as opposed to my more-typical process for a bird I haven't seen before in real life, which is to go through the cataloging process, narrowing down to family and then flipping through my field guide checking particular plumage details, I just looked at this bird's face and said, "Oh, I recognize you." It was the same process as I would use to recognize a celebrity from a photograph: I just subconsciously put together the particular appearance of this owl, and recognized it with that same facial-recognition processor that we've evolved in the course of our social-primate past.
Posted by: John Callender | March 6, 2009 10:37 AM
This is a stunning picture. You don't usually see them so crisp in flight. And those are some wicked claws. I'd hate to be the mouse this guy is locked on to!
Posted by: CyberLizard | March 6, 2009 10:38 AM
Ah yes. The transatlantic, many spotted, even toed, sparrowdon. On the lookout for its favourite prey - the ocean dwelling Orca. I didn't think megafauna like this still existed.
Posted by: Alex | March 6, 2009 12:57 PM