Need Help Identifying An Owl

[jolinar of malkshor]

We have this owl that has lived on our property for a while now and I am hoping there are some experts our there that can assist us in identifying it. My wife and I think we have narrowed it down to two possible species.

We would appreciate any assistance anyone can provide.

[OutOfTheCube]

Haha, that second picture is awesome. It's a game of 'can you find the owl in this picture?'.

As for your question, I am of no relevant help.

[Codes]

Hard to tell based on the pictures, but to me, it looks like it could be Great Horned Owl.

Spoiler!

It looks like it has "horns" in the second image, but it is very difficult to see.

[dissentowner]

Am I the only one who can't see any owl in pic 2.

[dissentowner]

First pic looks like a barn owl possibly.

[Bane]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Am I the only one who can't see any owl in pic 2.

Top right of the wood pile.

Looks like a barn owl to me as well.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Am I the only one who can't see any owl in pic 2.

Right side of the wood pile/collapsed structure.

[arsenal]

don't barn owls have a very distinctive face though? That it looks like it's wearing a white mask?

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by arsenal

don't barn owls have a very distinctive face though? That it looks like it's wearing a white mask?

They do, and they have a rounder face. They are a much smaller owl then the one in the OP's picture.



I would agree that's a Great Horned Owl (cannot really see the horns in the second pic but easy to tell it's a large bird) or perhaps it's cousin the Snowy Owl. Snowy Owl's, when not in winter weather, do become quite dark and the face shape is similar to a Great Horned Owl without the horns. Great Horned Owl would be more common in Alberta, but Snowy Owl's wouldn't be that odd to see here.

[Buff]

Came to thread looking to see hooters. Saw them. Still left disappointed.

[T@T]

Size and color suggests a

burrowing owl, hard to really tell for sure though.

[Huntingwhale]

[Five-hole]

Yep. It's an owl.

[combustiblefuel]

Looks like this one which is a great horned owl.

[Derek Sutton]

I would say great horned as well, you can kinda see small horns in the second pic. Too big for a burrowing owl.

[_Q_]

Looks like a rare Alberta Death Owl... I would stay away from it.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Judging by the second picture, I'd identify him as Waldo....

[Northendzone]

[troutman]

I think it is a Great Horned Owl - fairly common in Southern Alberta. Burrowing Owls might be found in SE Alberta and the Okanagan, but not so much around Calgary.

This is a great app for birding:
http://iphone.ibird.com/About_Canada.html

[puckedoff]

My money is on 'great horned'.
Youtube their calls, Alberta only has a couple types of owl (barn / great horned) and they have very different hoots.