Owl Eye Issue 7_int

Description: Grey morph: The facial disc is pale
brownish-grey, finely mottled and vermiculated
darker. The rim is dark and not very prominent, with
pale speckles on the edge. The eyebrows are slightly
paler than the surrounding plumage, so are not
very prominent. The eyes are bright yellow, the bill
and cere blackish. There are blackish bristles at the
base of the bill. Ear-tufts are short and pointed, and
prominent when erected.
Photo By A.Bucci Photography
The crown and upperparts are brownish-grey with
blackish shaft-streaks and fine vermiculations. The
scapulars have whitish outer webs, edged black,
forming a line of white spots across each shoulder.
Flight feathers are boldly barred light and dark, while
the tail is less distinctly barred.
Underparts are paler than the upperparts, with
blackish shaft-streaks and irregular cross-barring.
The upper breast has some broad shaft-streaks
resembling black spots.
Tarsi are feathered to the base of the toes, which
are greyish-brown in colour and bristled and partly
feathered. Claws are blackish-horn.
Brown morph: Similar in pattern but with a more
rufous-brown general colouration.
Size: Length 22-24cm. Wing length 142-190mm.
Weight 90-250g. Females are larger than males.
Habits: Nocturnal, with activity generally beginning
20-30 minutes after sunset. Flight is noiseless with
soft wingbeats and gliding. Will become motionless if
disturbed at roost. This owl is very aggressive when
defending a nest site, and may attack humans. During
direct flight, the Western Screech Owl flies fairly
rapidly with a steady wing beat of about 5 strokes/
second. It rarely glides or hovers, but may fly bat-like
with erratic movements, when maneuvering through
wooded areas. Wings are broad and the head is held
tucked in giving a flying bird a stubby appearance.
Voice: The male's most common call is a mellow,
muted trill "hoo-hoo-hoo...", or bouncing ball song,
that speeds up at the end, but maintains a constant
pitch. It is given by the male during the mating and
nesting seasons, but also during the autumn and
winter. This call is primarily territorial in nature. A
secondary song is a double trill of rapid bursts. Other
calls are a soft "cr-r-oo-oo-oo-oo" given as a greeting
call, and a sharp bark given when excited.
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