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Spectacled Owl


Spectacled Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Ricardo Kuehn (ryyck) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 176] (994)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon A60
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-11-16 9:05
Viewed: 1800
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 33
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Spectacled Owl - Pulsatrix perspicillata

Description: Spectacled Owls are dark brown with a whitish to yellow-ochre belly, a white patch on the front of the neck and a dark brown belt across the breast. White "spectacles" around their yellow eyes give them their name.
A juvenile has the adult markings in reverse - a white head with black mask, and may take several years from hatching to attain full adult plumage.

Habits: An unsociable bird. Generally nocturnal, with activity normally begining after dusk and continuing to dawn. Roosts singly by day in trees with dense foliage. Most vocal on calm, moonlit nights.

Size: Length 43-46cm (17-18")
Weight male 453-680g (16-24oz) female 680-906g (24-32oz)

Voice: A series of knocking or tapping sounds with a poping effect "PUP-pup-pup-pup-po", each successive note being lower and weaker, and the rhythm quicker as the series progresses.
The Female also has a hawk-like scream "ker-WHEEER", which has been likened to a steam whistle.

Hunting & Food: Spectacled Owls eat small mammals including mice and the occasional possum or skunk, insects, spiders, many Caterpillars, bats, birds up to the size of Jays, crabs and frogs.
They use a branch to perch on and scan the surrounding area. When prey is located, they drop with a swift pounce. Insects are snatched from foliage.

Breeding: In Costa Rica, eggs are laid in the dry season, or at the start of the wet season. Spectacled Owls nest in tree hollows and lay 1-2 eggs, which are incubated by the female for about 5 weeks. Chicks leave the nest for surrounding branches at about 5-6 weeks, well before they can fly, but depend on their parents for up to a year once fledged. Often, only one chick will survive.

Habitat: Occurs more frequently in dense tropical rainforest with mature, large trees, including forest edges. Also found in dry forest, treed savannah habitat, plantations and open areas with scattered trees.

Distribution: Mexico, Central America, Northern two-thirds of South America.

Status: Generally uncommon, but locally common in areas such as Costa Rica, Colombia and the Amazon.

Thank you for Steve Prior about the correct ID.

Source: http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Pulsatrix&species=perspicillata
coasties, JeanMichel, glazzaro, livios, wishnugaruda, seanf, duckpond has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jagged (6)
  • [2005-11-16 9:32]

Great shot, the eyes are pin sharp and the DOF is spot on. Well done

Wonderful picture, Ricardo! Soft colors, super clean sharpness, very good exposure... and a beautiful bird caught in a great pose. I wish it was mine. Certainly not a common species. More info on the shooting location would be appreciated. Thanks for sharing this beauty!

Beautiful owl, great photo, Ricardo!

Details (especially eyes) are sharp and colors are lovely.

What a wonderful POV and pose.

Well done and thank you.

  • Great 
  • lukdm Gold Star Critiquer [C: 51 W: 0 N: 7] (165)
  • [2005-11-16 10:03]

great 'portrait' Ricardo

Superb lighting, color and detail, nice work.

Greg

Hi Ricardo,
excellent!!!
Those eyes are marvelous and this bird has so pretty colours and design. What a beautiful shot, thank you very much for sharing it with us, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • seanf (92)
  • [2005-11-16 14:13]

hi ricardo
that's a beautiful owl, and you've captured it very well. it's perfectly sharp and focused, and the colours are wonderful. very well done.
sean

Nice shot. Good composition and focus on the eyes. Excellent DOF.

Maybe put the writing on a frame, the shot is too good for it to have writing on (IMHO)

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3072 W: 232 N: 5866] (19726)
  • [2005-11-17 2:05]

A magnificent portrait of this owl. He is so photogenic. The colors and markings on his head are just stunning. Sharp details and perfect exposure. Excellent POV and composition. Congratulations and TFS. ; )

Hi Ricardo

Just a quick critique tonight as it is very late. Really good shot. Well composed. Nice POV with good detail and sharpness. Nice work. Thanks.

Superb shot of this owl. Great pose and very good exposure.

  • Great 
  • shal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 287 W: 71 N: 499] (2086)
  • [2005-11-17 7:38]

Hey Ricardo,
great DOF I like your subject,
very well captured,
TFS,
Shal

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-11-17 9:35]

Ricardo, bela foto, belo predador.

Excelentes nitidez e composição. Também gosto do fundo.

Mais um belo trabalho.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2005-11-17 14:11]

Excellent shot Ricardo. Very intense look in the eyes, well composed and perfect exposure. Very sharp details aswell. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • Kris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 0 N: 129] (1808)
  • [2005-11-17 18:08]

Ricardo!
Magnificent photo! Wonderfull!
Excellent colours and very good sharp detail. Composition and DoF are great also. Very well done.
Regards, Krzysztof.

Very nice composition. Guy is following the situation with you behind branch carefully. Good sharpness, details, colors, DOF.

A terrific shot, Ricardo
Love the framing. Pose, detail, color and sharpness are first rate ...

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