haunting owl id thoughts...
GREGORY.B.MILLER@bge.com
Thu, 10 Dec 1998 09:27:12 -0500
Howdy All!
It's now been almost a year since I celebrated my 40th
birthday in Southern Texas (to me, this is a *very classy* way to
celebrate!). I remember clearly the sighting of a Great Horned
Owl in Bentsen Rio Grande State Park in a leafless Oak, posture
erect and formal, peering down at me astutely with large, yellow
eyes. But something wasn't quite right about this bird. It was
a particularly pale gray bird, and rather uniform in coloration.
I think the report of an [arctic] Great Horned Owl on the
Illinois RBA today probably triggered my thoughts on this bird
again. I remember going back to my car and looking at my NGS
guide and studying the picture of the arctic form. But that form
was not this bird.
What was unique to me was that this bird had completely pale
gray facial disks. There was not a hint of any rust, brown, or
even buff on the entire bird. Has anyone seen a bird like this?
I have not seen one like this before, but my experience is far
from comprehensive. The bird's size and shape was certainly that
of a Great Horned. I have seen young birds just out of the nest
and I have seen adults. Is this some sort of intermediate
plumage with which I have no experience? And December?
I wish I had pictures. I asked several local birders last
year, but know one knew of a plumage like this. I passed it off
quite easily as a plumage variation with which I had no
experience and was undocumented in the field guides.
Today, my knowledge is no better than it was a year ago. At
the risk of sounding foolish and inexperienced, does anyone know
of a plumage of Great Horned Owls with pure gray facial disks? I
have not found any references in my limited library.
Thanks for any help,
Stymied in Lusby,
Greg Miller