# Owl (bird) identification **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owl-bird-identification/582985 "2011-05-24T05:13:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owl-bird-identification/582985/1 "2011-05-24T05:13:13Z")
We had 6 of these owls hanging out on the gutter and drainpipe yesterday (in southeast South Dakota). These two hung around long enough for a picture- the rest were driven off by crows. It was probably about noon. All were about 6" tall (at the most) with no significant horns (or at least that I noticed). Any hints on the species? I can’t match them easily to anything yet. [Cell Phone Picture of Owls](http://i54.tinypic.com/15czll4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owl-bird-identification/582985/2 "2011-05-24T05:37:19Z")
How cool to see these guys in the daytime! My guess would be a [Eastern Screech Owl](http://owling.com/Eastern_Screech.htm); the size is right, they’re small, they’re found in the Dakotas and the markings look similar, especially in the first picture. We get Great Horned Owls around here, I’ve heard them but NEVER seen one. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owl-bird-identification/582985/3 "2011-05-24T05:47:26Z")
I agree with Eastern Screech Owl, particularly due to the black marks at the side of the face. They do have “horns,” especially visible on the one on the right, but they are not erected so they are not very apparent. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owl-bird-identification/582985/4 "2011-05-24T06:34:50Z")
Cuuuute! ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owl-bird-identification/582985/5 "2011-05-24T12:50:32Z")
Lucky you! I wonder if their resting area was disturbed by something. I found a bat low on the side of one of my trees recently during the daytime. I think it was a female with a rather large baby clinging to her belly. It had not been there earlier in the day, so I suppose it was disturbed from its regular resting place for some reason. I know the city had been cutting down some sick pine trees about three blocks from here. We just took a quick video and then left it/them alone. It was gone by 8:30 in the evening. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owl-bird-identification/582985/6 "2011-05-24T19:11:51Z")
Thanks everyone! It is interesting that the tufts are visible in the picture but weren’t really noticeable in person. They alternated hoo watched which direction, but they continually kept one set of eyes on us.