Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Boreal Owl
Scientific name:	Aegolius funereus
Date:	10/15/2022
Time:	10:20 PM
Length of time observed:	Approximately ten minutes as one bird was visible and the other called
Number:	Two
Age:	Both were in adult plumage
Sex:	Unknown, but one bird did appear to be larger than the other
Location:	Soapstone Basin
County:	Summit County
Latilong:
Elevation:	Above 9000’
Distance to bird:	within 20’
Optical equipment:	Naked eye and camera lenses
Weather:	Approximately 40°F, clear skies, occasional slight wind that rustled aspen leaves
Light Conditions:	Moon was still below the horizon, so the forest was very dark
Description: Size of bird:
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	(See photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Song heard from one bird and alarm call from another
Behavior:	Responded to call. Perching and flying.
Habitat:	Mixed conifer
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Compared with Northern Saw-whet, Boreal Owls have white spots rather than streaks in the forehead, pale rather than dark bills, dark and white rather than tawny and white facial feathers, smaller eyes in a bulkier head, and white spotting on the chest rather than streaking like a Saw-whet. The topside was gray/brown with white spotting throughout the back.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	This is our third year in a row observing them in the Uinta Mountains. Jeff has seen them in Wyoming and Minnesota as well.
References consulted:	Not consulted due to previous experience with the species
Description from:	Memory and photos
Observer:	Terry Reid, James Loveless, and Jeff Cooper
Observer's address:	Pleasant Grove, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	10/17/22
Additional material:	Photo
Additional comments: