Know Your Owls

Size: 26–43cm (10–17in)

Weight: 200–400g (7.1–14.loz)

Wingspan: 106cm–119cm (42–47in)

The heart-shaped face is ash grey with an orange-brown surround; the upper body is yellow-brown with black wavy lines. The under body is yellowish brown with dark arrow-shaped spots. The eyes are black-brown.

The ashy faced owl was originally believed to be a sub species of the barn owl but it is now accepted as being an entirely different species. It is found only in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, living in lowland forest and forest edges where trees with large enough cavities can be found. As the forest shrinks and disappears, so do the nesting cavities and the ashy faced owl. Its diet consists of mice, rats, tree frogs, snakes and insects. Little is written about its breeding habits, but it nests in natural cavities in trees, rocky crevices and abandoned buildings. It is also accepted that the period from the three to seven eggs being laid to fledging is similar to the barn owl, about 50 days. Hoot: rapid clicks followed by a two- to three-second raspy wheeze. I know the feeling well.

Size: 27cm (10.5in)

Weight: 150–174g (5.29–6.17oz)

Wing length: 170–185mm (6.7–7.3in)

Mainly grayish brown with large brown eyes with a dark brown surround with paler rims. The upper body has dark brown streaks and dark wavy lines. The underbody is paler with dark wavy streaks and short ear tufts.

The balsas is the largest of the screech owls and is found only in a small area in central western Mexico, living and hunting at altitudes of 600–1500m (1900–4900ft). Its hunting grounds are dry thorn forests. The thorny trees are scattered and average about 7–8m (23–26ft) tall. It perches on tree stumps and in the trees, where it is difficult to spot as its plumage provides superb camouflage against the bark of the trees. Little is known about the balsas, but it is believed it feeds on small mouse-like creatures and insects. I am told that no one has yet described the nest but the assumption is that it lives in tree cavities and breeds in June. Hoot is like a bouncing ball: hooh-hooh-huh-nuh-huhuhurrr. Yes!

Size: 33–39cm (13–15in)

Weight: 250–480g (8.8–16.9oz)

Wingspan: 80–95cm (31–37in)

The face is heart shaped. The discs around the eyes are white with a brown edge. Overall, the upper body is shades of brown with black and white speckles. The underbody is mainly white with tear-shaped spots, the wings are banded