Now on ScienceBlogs: Dr. Rolando Arafiles: Antivaccine rhetoric, colloidal silver for the flu, and Morgellons disease
"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." -- Eden Phillpotts.
GrrlScientist is a colorful parrot who writes by typing with her beak. She's also an evolutionary biologist and a proud member of the vast left-wing conspiracy that your mother warned you about.
Online interviews with GrrlScientist: Kolibri Expeditions, ScienceOnline09, Nature Blog Network and ScienceBlogs. More biographical information about GrrlScientist.
Follow GrrlScientist:
GrrlScientist's banner was designed by graphic artist, Jeff Hebert, whose other work can be viewed at his site, Hero Machine.
|
|
Nominate your science, nature or medical writing to Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the Public) blog carnival using the widget above or send the link directly to Scientia Blog Carnival.
« 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.
Find more posts in: 
Life Science
Education & Careers
Share this: Facebook Twitter Stumbleupon Reddit Email + More
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/100760
starts with a bang! 02.08.2010
the world's fair 02.09.2010
the white coat underground 02.08.2010
living the scientific life (scientist, interrupted) 02.08.2010
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