Mexican Spotted Owl

Walking along the Rio Grande with my dogs today, I managed to spot an owl peering out at us from a cottonwood branch far above. Though my hands were too full to snap a picture, I'm fairly certain it was a Spotted Owl, also known as the Western Barred Owl. Though the colors of both eastern and western varieties are similar, the Barred Owl features plumage decorated with eponymous bars, or bands, while the western species has white spots instead.

From what I can tell, no other western owl species quite resembles this large, brown and proverbially fearless bird, which sports a distinctive pair of large, dark eyes. The Spotted Owl grows to around 19-20 inches long and has a round, puffy head with no ear tufts. Pale markings in the facial disc form an X between their eyes. These owls range from Mexico all the way up into southern Colorado and west throughout Arizona and the Cascades of central California. They can also be found in a coastal belt as far north as Washington State.

This bird has been widely reported to have little fear of humans, often letting a curious birdwatcher approach within several feet without fleeing. Its voice is a high pitched hooting, often sounded in groups of three or four. Three separate subspecies are recognized - the California, Northern and Mexican Spotted Owls.