northern hawk owl

I have had a couple of opportunities to photograph the Northern Hawk Owl; once in Minnesota at Sax Zim Bog in 2023 and again in Calgary in 2024.  The images here are all from the Calgary trip.

The northern hawk-owl (Surnia ulula) is a medium-sized true owl found in the northern latitudes. Unlike most owls, it is active during the day and is neither nocturnal nor crepuscular. With no ear tufts, a whitish face, and long pointed wings, it resembles a hawk in appearance. Its oval body, yellow eyes, and round face enclosed by dark parentheses are distinctly owl-like. The northern hawk-owl’s behaviour, such as perching atop solitary trees and hunting during daylight, further reinforces its hawk-like tendencies