Owl Sleep

by Kathy Bassett

Canvas Print

$42

Framed Print

$69

Art Print

$18

Poster

$18

Metal Print

$66

Acrylic Print

$74

Wood Print

$45

Tapestry

$41

Throw Pillow

$25

Fleece Blanket

$48

Duvet Cover

$105

Shower Curtain

$68

Bath Towel

$35

Jigsaw Puzzle

$40

Tote Bag

$26

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Zip Pouch

$25

Portable Battery Charger

$49

Yoga Mat

$60

Greeting Card

$14

Spiral Notebook

$17

iPhone Case

$27

Beach Towel

$35

Round Beach Towel

$70

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Coffee Mug

$17

Men's Clothing

$28

Women's Clothing

$28

Youth Clothing

$24

Toddler Clothing

$22

Baby Clothing

$26

Title

Owl Sleep

Artist

Kathy Bassett

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

OWLS Sonoran Desert species: from the beloved Sonoran Desert Museum with an abundance of live creatures to educate and delight.
The Sonoran Desert at night is a very lively place. Especially in summer, there are probably more creatures abroad at midnight than at noon. Of course, most birds shun this night shift, but several species of owl are notable exceptions.Owls are superbly equipped to hunt at night. They cannot see in total darkness - no animal can do that - but their eyes are adapted for vision under very low light conditions. Even more impressive is their sense of hearing. Studies have shown that Barn Owls can locate their prey by sound alone, in total darkness, with pinpoint accuracy. Many of the creatures that they hunt also have excellent hearing, but the owls can approach them in silence; the sound of their wing beats is muffled by the softened edges of the larger wing feathers.
Great Horned Owls are found throughout the Americas and Barn Owls practically throughout the world, so it is no surprise that they can adapt to desert life. Great Horned Owls eat almost anything smaller than themselves from rabbits and skunks to snakes and insects. Barn Owls specialize on rodents and the smaller desert owls also tend to take small prey. The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, a tropical species that reaches its northern limit here, may hunt most at dawn and dusk, often catching songbirds. The world's smallest owl, the Elf Owl, nests in holes in saguaro cacti and ventures out at night to eat beetles and moths. Nocturnal insects are scarce in cold weather, so most Elf Owls retreat south into Mexico for the winter; other desert owls are present year-round.
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Western Screech-Owl (Otus kennicottii)
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
(Glaucidium brasilianum)
Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi)
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
Family: Strigidae (all but Barn Owl)
Family: Tytonidae (Barn Owl)
Spanish names: lechuza mono, lechuza comn (Barn Owl), tecolotito chillon (Western Screech-Owl), tecolote cornudo, buho (Great Horned Owl), tecolote enano (Elf Owl), lechuza llanera, lechuza de ojo (Burrowing Owl)
Distinguishing Features
Barn Owl: This is a long-legged, knock-kneed, pale, monkey-faced owl. It has no ear tufts, and the pale face resembles a heart-shaped disc. The back is golden-brown, the belly is white. The voice is a loud, rasping screech. Western Screech-Owl: A common bird in our area, it is small, measuring only about 8 inches (20 cm). It is gray, streaked with black and white, has conspicuous ear tufts and is zygodactylous (2 toes point forward, 2 backward). Its call, a trill of several notes that become more rapid (like a bouncing ball), distinguishes it from the similar Whiskered Screech-Owl, which lives in oak woodlands. Great Horned Owl: Measuring almost 2 feet (61 cm) tall, this is our largest owl. It has a white throat, barred underside, and prominent ear tufts. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: This small (6¼ to 7 inch; 17 cm), uncommon, earless owl is reddish-brown with a faintly cross-barred tail. The crown has many white streaks and the underside is white with red-brown streaks.
Elf Owl: About the size of a sparrow (5 inches tall; 13 cm), this is one of the smallest owls in the world. It has no ear tufts, and is grayish-brown with a white brow. The call consists of a variety of soft yelping notes, often running together into a high-pitched chatter. Burrowing Owl: About the size of a screech-owl, it is brown, spotted with tan, and lacks ear tufts; the long legs are almost featherless.
Habitat
Barn Owl: This owl occurs throughout our area and through much of the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is widespread but local. It is often found in conjunction with human habitation, roosting and nesting in barns, under bridges, in mine shafts, and in palm trees. It often nests in the undercuts of arroyos.
Western Screech-Owl: The screech-owl occurs from southwestern Canada into Mexico. It is a resident of wooded areas from low desert into the mountains.
Great Horned Owl: This owl occurs throughout the New World, except the extreme north. It is found in every habitat within our region.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: This species ranges from southern Arizona and southernTexas, south through Central and South America. The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl is found in saguaro deserts and wooded river bottoms. In the tropics it inhabits a wide variety of wooded or semi-open habitats.
Elf Owl: The Elf Owl occurs from western Mexico through the southwestern United States. In our region, it may be found mostly in riparian habitats or in association with the saguaro.
Burrowing Owl: This species occurs from southwestern Canada to Tierra del Fuego, at the tip of South America. It prefers open country, prairie and desert. It is frequently seen in desert and grassland regions, standing on mounds or fence posts during the day.
Feeding
Diet: The Barn Owl feeds on large numbers of rats and mice. Western Screech-Owl feeds on invertebrates and vertebrates. The Great Horned Owl has an extremely varied diet that includes birds, skunks, snakes, lizards, insects, and even frogs and fish. Lagomorphs (rabbits and hares) and rodents make up the bulk of the diet. The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl prefers lizards and large insects, but will also take scorpions and small birds and mammals. The Elf Owl feeds primarily on invertebrates such as scorpions, centipedes, beetles and moths. The Burrowing Owl feeds on insects, rodents and small reptiles.
Behavior: Barn Owl: An expert nocturnal predator, it finds its prey at night