Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), Yuma, Yuma County

These Short-eared Owls were photographed by Henry Detwiler on 14 January 2012 and were part of a concentration of 9 birds he discovered south of County 19th Street, south of Yuma, at the edge of one of the huge circular Bermuda grass fields.

Rosenberg et al (1991) considered Short-eared Owl a locally uncommon to rare winter resident and indicated that 1-2 owls had been found every winter between 1976-1982, including 9 birds in Yuma in 1976. However, there have been no records in the Lower Colorado River Valley since. Since this species is easily overlooked, it is not clear if this reflects a change in its status.

Unmistakable.

14 January 2012, photo by Henry Detwiler