Any Owl experts here?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

This bad boy or girl was right off my deck yesterday. I was trying to have a conversation with my neighbor when the crows started making a hell of a racket. We don't see much of this 'round these parts in Chicago.

I tried to get a good shot of her face but she turned her head back around. The best shot would have been when she stood up, pooped on my neighbor's car and flew off with 5 crows in tow.

Now I understand why the Wildlings call the Night's Watch "Crows"


I think it might be a Great Horned based on my internets search. It was rather large. I wish I could have shown scale.

[Sunriser13]

1. No expert here

but I think you're right with Great Horned.

It looks pretty darn big based on tree size comparison, and is that one of the crows to the left of the pictures? Also gives just a little perspective if it is.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Yes. And the crows were pretty fricken big.

[In_The_Wind]

2. The tufts on top of the head plus your description sounds like a Great Horned Owl.

We has one in our back yard several times at the old place. Yes, they are very large and don't give a hoot about the birds around it.

[locks]

4. We have a pair of nesting Great Horned Owls

nearby every year. Actually they don't leave no matter how cold it gets. They nest in an old dead tree with a large opening and have 1-3 babies who are about as cute balls of fluff as you'll ever see. Mom lays eggs sometime in Feb and they hatch in April usually. Both parents seem to sit on the nest and take time out to bring huge meals to the babies, from fish and voles to rabbits and large ducks (they have the biggest and strongest talons of any owls). They do not mind any creatures coming by, including coyotes. Only real problem is when they fledge they land on the ground and stay there till they can fly up to a branch. But Boulder has great Open Space rangers and many birders who will happily sit all day and protect the little ones.

Sometimes we hear the owls at night even when the temp is -10. And if you get to watch them fly, their wingspan is amazing.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. That's pretty cool.

You should get an owl cam!

[Blue Owl]

5. Don't fuck with them

And even then, watch your back...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. I was a little concerned about a neighbor walking his tiny dog down the alley.