These guys are the only owl in the Scops owl family that can be found in North America. They are called the flammulated owl because they have a flame colored and shaped marking on their wings. They are even smaller than Kotori (see Meet the Animals), at 5.9 - 6.7 inches tall!
These guys generally prefer insects for food, simply because they aren't big enough to eat much else. Very rarely do they eat shrews or other small rodents. When they call, they sound like a much larger owl that is calling in the distance.
These guys prefer to nest in tree cavities, but will also use a nesting box on occasion. Individuals will often use the same nesting site year after year, laying between 2-4 creamy white eggs. These eggs are incubated for 21-24 days before hatching into tiny fuzzballs.
They are considered to be of Least Concern to the ICUN Red List, which is very nice. They used to be considered rare, but a recent census showed that they are actually one of the most common owls in forests. These guys can be hard to locate from their calling, though. The way that they hoot makes it difficult to figure out where it is coming from, and they hoot even softer when they see a human. That makes them sound even farther away!
Sources:
- http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Flammulated_Owl/sounds
- http://www.owlinstitute.org/flammulated-owl.html
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