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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: 2005-09-22 9:17
Viewed: 1412
Points: 20
[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
dew77, ellis49, TAZ, Signal-Womb has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ellis49: Thank youryyck 1 09-22 12:56
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-09-22 11:33]

Hello Ricardo!
Wonderful portrait.POV,BG,clear eyes and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

Those eyes are worth a big smilie...

Very good portrait, Ricardo.
I composition and the POV. The eyes are amazing.
Good details too.
Great work.

Only 2 here but 9.5 in PB

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-09-22 13:46]

Wow ! What a superb and interesting Owl that you have well captured ! Details and colors on head and especialy in eyes are great ! Thanks for sharing Ricardo.

  • Great 
  • Libor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 176 W: 1 N: 25] (1101)
  • [2005-09-22 14:22]

Hi ricardo
this is the next beautiful photo of you
excelent sharpnes and colors and details
beautiful thanks

  •      
  • lukdm Gold Star Critiquer [C: 51 W: 0 N: 7] (165)
  • [2005-09-22 15:16]

what a protrait Ricardo
oeps, no more points available

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-09-22 17:49]

Ricardo, mais uma de suas belas corujas. Parabéns.

Aqui onde moro não há zoológico (sic), mas estou pensando em dar um "pulinho" até Brasília para tentar algumas fotos lá.

Quanto à sua, excelente composição e detalhes, além de belos ângulo e enquadramento.

Ricardo excellent details and those eyes are just perfect.
Ros

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6160] (21052)
  • [2005-09-23 3:24]

Hi Ricardo. That owl of yours is really very photogenic. Another beautiful shot. Details are supersharp, and the POV is excellent. Perfect light as well. The eyes are awesome. Great job and TFS. : )

Love the tight composition and intense look of this little fellow. Good detail and colour although their looks to be noise in the pens. 6/10 Very well done Ricardo.

Hi Ricardo

Not enough time for me to give a proper critique or read your note tonight before I go out, but this is a lovely shot. Good work. Thanks. :-)

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