Posted by Mark Jenkins on August 9, 2010 at 12:46 AM
I was in western Alaska last week and took this photo late morning with low light and high ISO causing significant noise, but I thought it was a Great Horned Owl. I didn't know if this was male and female or parent and baby on the left. I was floating on a boat on a river and shot 5 or 6 times as I passed them with a Nikon D300s and 70-300 lens. Thanks for any help.
Posted by Mia McPherson on August 9, 2010 at 6:37 AM
Mark,
The one on the left is a young Great Horned Owl. The one on the right is an adult. I usually can not tell the gender with adults unless a male and female are present, The female is slightly larger.
Posted by David Graham on August 9, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Mark,
These are examples of the so-called "subarctic" race of the GHO. The predominantly gray rather than umber to sienna to tawny markings are typical, Some individuals have more scant dark markings and the almost white background color can lead to misidentification as a snowy owl...until the "horn" feathers are elevated and noticed.
These "subarctics" occasionally winter in our northern tier states; I saw one by my truck's headlights last winter as it flew across the road a few miles from my home in South Dakota, and I thought at first that it was a snowy...until I turned around and found it conveniently perched on a low branch at the wood's edge...and a breeze raised its "ears" or "horns"!
Discussion
2 repliesThe one on the left is a young Great Horned Owl. The one on the right is an adult. I usually can not tell the gender with adults unless a male and female are present, The female is slightly larger.
These are examples of the so-called "subarctic" race of the GHO. The predominantly gray rather than umber to sienna to tawny markings are typical, Some individuals have more scant dark markings and the almost white background color can lead to misidentification as a snowy owl...until the "horn" feathers are elevated and noticed.
These "subarctics" occasionally winter in our northern tier states; I saw one by my truck's headlights last winter as it flew across the road a few miles from my home in South Dakota, and I thought at first that it was a snowy...until I turned around and found it conveniently perched on a low branch at the wood's edge...and a breeze raised its "ears" or "horns"!
Dave Graham
East River, SD