Flammulated Owl
Encyclopedia
The Flammulated Owl is a small, nocturnal owl
approximately 15 cm (6 in) long with a 36 cm (14 in) wingspan. Males and females can be distinguished by their weight. Females are larger, ranging from 62-65 grams and males are smaller ranging from 50-52 grams. The owl gets the name flammulated from the flame like markings on its face, (Bremiller, 2003). It breeds from southern British Columbia
and the western United States
to central Mexico
. It is a neotropical migrant and winters south of the United States but also in Southern Texas, Arizona, and California (Verna,). Unlike many owls, they are migratory, leaving Canada and the United States in the fall. In the winter, they are found in northern Central America
, from southern Mexico to Guatemala
and El Salvador
. Flammulated Owls leave their breeding grounds in August to head to their wintering areas and then return to their breeding grounds in late April and early May (Samson, 2005). The Flammulated Owl is similar in appearance to the Western Screech-Owl but is only about one-quarter the mass, lacks large ear tufts (but has small ear tufts that are barely visible), has dark eyes and a different voice. The Elf Owl
is smaller and the Northern Pygmy-Owl is approximately the same size.
The call is a series of relatively deep single or double hoots.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a recording of the flammulated owl's hoots.
Nesting
The Flammulated Owl nests in tree cavities and has 2–4 young at a time after a 26-day incubation period. The young are able to forage for their own prey after about 25-32 days (Samson, 2005). These owls are obligate cavity nesters meaning they will only create nests in tree cavities and no where else, (Linkhart & Renyolds, 2007). Females usually select cavities that used to be woodpecker or northern flicker nests(Samson, 2005). Their nests are bare and have no nesting material. Flammulated owls tend to form breeding pairs with unoccupied habitat between breeding clusters (Marti). They tend to have one clutch of eggs annually. Like other raptors they can live long and have high nesting success, (Linkhart & Renyolds, 2007). During the nesting period the female owls rely on the males to forage for them, (Linkhart & Renyolds, 2007).
Nesting habitat in the western U.S. and Canada is usually mature, open ponderosa pine
and Douglas-fir
forests. Flammulated owls can also be found breeding in deciduous forests with some conifers present(Marti). In deciduous type habitat flammulated owls can still be productive in terms of breeding.
Diet
They feed almost entirely on insects, but will very occasionally eat small mammals such as shrews. The insects they eat mostly consist of small lepidopteron (Linkhart 2007), which are the moths and butterfly order. They also like to eat crickets and beetles.
Conservation Status
Currently the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), lists the flammulated owl as a species of least concern but populations may be declining in some areas.
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
approximately 15 cm (6 in) long with a 36 cm (14 in) wingspan. Males and females can be distinguished by their weight. Females are larger, ranging from 62-65 grams and males are smaller ranging from 50-52 grams. The owl gets the name flammulated from the flame like markings on its face, (Bremiller, 2003). It breeds from southern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and the western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
to central Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is a neotropical migrant and winters south of the United States but also in Southern Texas, Arizona, and California (Verna,). Unlike many owls, they are migratory, leaving Canada and the United States in the fall. In the winter, they are found in northern Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, from southern Mexico to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. Flammulated Owls leave their breeding grounds in August to head to their wintering areas and then return to their breeding grounds in late April and early May (Samson, 2005). The Flammulated Owl is similar in appearance to the Western Screech-Owl but is only about one-quarter the mass, lacks large ear tufts (but has small ear tufts that are barely visible), has dark eyes and a different voice. The Elf Owl
Elf Owl
The Elf Owl is a member of the owl family Strigidae that breeds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the world's lightest owl, although the Long-whiskered Owlet and the Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl are of a similarly diminutive length. The mean body weight of this species is 40 grams...
is smaller and the Northern Pygmy-Owl is approximately the same size.
The call is a series of relatively deep single or double hoots.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a recording of the flammulated owl's hoots.
Nesting
The Flammulated Owl nests in tree cavities and has 2–4 young at a time after a 26-day incubation period. The young are able to forage for their own prey after about 25-32 days (Samson, 2005). These owls are obligate cavity nesters meaning they will only create nests in tree cavities and no where else, (Linkhart & Renyolds, 2007). Females usually select cavities that used to be woodpecker or northern flicker nests(Samson, 2005). Their nests are bare and have no nesting material. Flammulated owls tend to form breeding pairs with unoccupied habitat between breeding clusters (Marti). They tend to have one clutch of eggs annually. Like other raptors they can live long and have high nesting success, (Linkhart & Renyolds, 2007). During the nesting period the female owls rely on the males to forage for them, (Linkhart & Renyolds, 2007).
Nesting habitat in the western U.S. and Canada is usually mature, open ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
and Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
forests. Flammulated owls can also be found breeding in deciduous forests with some conifers present(Marti). In deciduous type habitat flammulated owls can still be productive in terms of breeding.
Diet
They feed almost entirely on insects, but will very occasionally eat small mammals such as shrews. The insects they eat mostly consist of small lepidopteron (Linkhart 2007), which are the moths and butterfly order. They also like to eat crickets and beetles.
Conservation Status
Currently the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), lists the flammulated owl as a species of least concern but populations may be declining in some areas.
External links
- USGS Identification Tips
- photo gallery; RangeMap & synopsis InfoNatura NatureServe
- Flammulated Owl photo gallery - VIREO
- Photo-High Res; Article & short synopsis - Photo gallery
