Flammulated Owl

Otus flammeolus

Status

Special Concern

Description

The Flammulated Owl is a small forest owl that is about 15-17 cm tall. It has grey, dark brown or reddish brown feathers that are tipped with orange. It has dark eyes and small ear tufts. They are more often identified by their sound which is a one or two-note low pitched hoot that sounds like a disntict "boop" or "booboop".

Habitat

The Flammulated Owl depends on mature and old-growth, multi-canopied Douglas fir dominant forests with ponderosa pine. They also need wildlife trees for nesting, a low to moderate canopy closure, thickets of younger Douglas-fir for security cover, and open forest patches with shrub under-story for foraging. They breed in ecosystems with frequent stand-maintaining fires.

Threats

Removal of wildlife trees
Fire suppression
Habitat loss due to human development
Invasive species
Mountain Pine Beetle and Douglas Fir Beetle infestation

You Can Help!

Retain dead and dying trees and old growth forests
Consider implementing a permitted prescribed burn
Retain healthy native plant communities in under-story