dcsimg

Behavior

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Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

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bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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Flammulated owls are losing their habitat as a result of the human need for wood. This in turn makes it difficult for them to find a nesting site, and it also makes it hard to hide from predators. Timber harvesting in older Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forests has the single greatest impact on Flammulated Owl breeding habitat in British Columbia by affecting cavity and prey availability. Firewood cutting and removal of "danger trees" can also reduce the availability of nest trees.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: appendix ii

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Flammulated owls keep the population of insects down. Thus they may provide pest control.

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bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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Otus flammeolus are insectivores. They feed on insects, moths, beetles, and crickets. Flammulated owls are predators that sit on a perch and pounce on their prey. They hunt at night, mainly at dusk or dawn, by visually locating prey from their perch, then flying to capture it in the air or pick it off needles, branches or the ground.

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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Flammulated owls breed in aspen, ponderosa, and Jeffrey Pines. They winter in central and south Mexico, as far south as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

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bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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The Flammulated owl is generally associated with montane forested habitats often with brushy understory. This owl may also occur in forests with mixes of oak, Douglas Fir, white fir, incense cedar, or sugar pine.

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; mountains

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bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Life Expectancy

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Average lifespan
Status: wild:
95 months.

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bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Morphology

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Flammulated owls are 6 inches (17cm) in length with a wingspan of 14 inches. They have big, round heads with large dark brown eyes. The ear tufts are small. Their bill is gray or blue. There are two color morphs of this species. Birds in the Great Basin mountains are grayish and have the coarsest markings; those in the southeast are reddish. The ventral side of both morphs generally tend to be blotched with gray, black, and reddish-brown. The dorsal side of the gray morph is mainly gray with reddish-brown on the back of the neck, and on the retrices and remiges. The dorsal side of the red morph is reddish-brown. A key field mark of this species is the streak of reddish feathers along the shoulder and onto the back. This "flaming" streak is what gives this bird its Latin and common name. The young tend to have a gray upperbody and a dull white or grayish-white underbody that is barred with a grayish-rust color.

There is no sexual dimorphism between the sexes. The sexes are alike in appearance although the male and female can be distinguished by call, as the female has a higher pitched whining call.

Range mass: 1.9 to 2.9 g.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

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bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Reproduction

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Flammulated owls are cavity nesters. Most nest sites are in woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities. They lay their eggs from about mid-April through the beginning of July. Generally 1-5 eggs are laid, depending on the variations in the weather.

The eggs are incubated for 21 to 24 days, and can hatch anywhere from early June to the end of July. The young become independent in 25-32 days. The young fledge at 30-35 days, staying within about 100 yards of the nest site.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous

Average eggs per season: 3.

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Strawder, N. 2003. "Otus flammeolus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_flammeolus.html
author
Nicole Strawder, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
editor
Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Cool facts

provided by EOL authors
A small owl of mountain pine forests, the Flammulated Owl is common in scattered localities throughout the West. The Flammulated Owl was once considered rare, but improved census techniques revealed that it is actually quite common. Some consider it the most abundant owl of western pine forests. The monotonous flat toot of the Flammulated Owl can be difficult to locate. The softness of the call, together with the gradual beginning and end make its direction hard to detect. In addition, when the owl detects a person, it sings even more softly, making it sound as if the owl is far away. Although most small owls eat insects, they also usually eat mice, shrews, and other small vertebrates. The Flammulated Owl eats very few vertebrates at all, and subsists nearly entirely on insects, especially crickets, moths, and beetles. Perhaps this diet is the reason that few Flammulated Owls remain in northern areas over the winter.
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bibliographic citation
Flammulated Owl (Otus flammeolus). The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Flammulated_Owl/lifehistory. Accessed 27 Jan 2014.
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J Medby (jamiemedby)
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EOL authors