r/birding • u/tweek264 • 1d ago

📷 Photo Had the pleasure of seeing this little one taking a nap in my tree yesterday

Gallery image

Gallery image

1.5k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

26

u/mgollc1 1d ago

What a great pic of a small owl species! What species is he? Here in my part of the Great Lakes, we have Saw Whet and Screech Owls. But this one in this pic is neither. What sort of owl is he?

41

u/stoopkid04 Latest Lifer: Snow Goose #303 1d ago

This is a Saw-whet. It’s a little more brown in the face than most I’ve seen, but all other markings match. Nice find op, I’ve seen a few in NE Ohio but never with a clear view like this.

3

u/mgollc1 1d ago

Ok, the saw whets that I have seen haven't been this brown, they've had more white on them. But I guess he does look like one, especially nestled in that cedar like that.

5

u/fzzball 1d ago

I'm just guessing, but possibly this is a juvie getting adult plumage in

10

u/tweek264 1d ago

I’m probably not the one to ask, I’m sure someone here will know for sure. This is only the 2nd owl I’ve actually seen in the wild and not in a rescue, but Merlin said it was a saw whet. I’m in northeast Ohio, so by the Great Lakes too. I just couldn’t believe my eyes! So cute :)

5

u/fzzball 1d ago

Saw-whet for sure

6

u/aratsllew 1d ago

What a beautiful gem

3

u/Plastic-Age5205 1d ago

Owls are silent in flight. I was eating lunch outside and an owl flew right over my head so close that I could have jumped up and touched it. And I never would have known it was there if I hadn't looked up and seen it.

2

u/Hiljabob 1d ago

Great picture! I want to see one now! And I mean now!!

3

u/TolBrandir 21h ago

I believe I would squeal myself to death should such a beast roost in my trees. 💓🥰