Bird of the Day, theme 'Awesomeowls'

natureAug 20, 202624814,299

Today’s Bird of the Day is a daily community event with the theme #AwesomeOwls, inviting any owl from the two owl families; the alternate prompt is #BirdNameG for birds whose common name starts with G. Contributors are sharing owl photographs, field portraits, and a few drawings and species illustrations, with work showing juveniles hunting in yards, owls in flight, and closeups of striking plumage and eyes. Standout subjects include a great horned owl photographed near Longmont, Colorado, a snowy owl at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and a burrowing owl captured when light catches its retinas. Look for Great Grey, Short-eared, Barred, Powerful and African Spotted Eagle Owl entries, plus a Maned Owl illustration and colored pencil Tawny Owl drawing under the #AwesomeOwls tag.

Kort Duce

@kortduce.bsky.social

A great horned owl perches in a tree near my home in Longmont, Colorado. #BirdOfTheDay #AwesomeOwls #BirdNameG #bird #birds #light #birdphotography #ECK #BirdsSeenln2026 #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

Photo by Kort Duce

A great horned owl perches in a tree near my home in Longmont, Colorado.

In this vertical color photograph, a great horned owl fills the frame as it faces the camera and looks down toward the viewer. The owl is perched on a slanted tree branch that enters the frame from the bottom left and extends upward, exiting near the middle right. The tree’s main trunk stands to the left of the owl, with smaller branches extending in all directions. The background is filled with lush green leaves, with subtle hints of gray from the overcast sky filtering through the foliage.

A beautiful portrait of a great horned owl in its natural prairie habitat, an ecosystem vital to its existence.

102045d ago

jobeth.bsky.social5

Beautiful 🦉 Here’s a hawk hanging out in my yard.

LovePet 🌳🦉🐦‍⬛🐘🦧🫍🐕‍🦺🦜🐿️2

youtube.com/shorts/8yUEw... Cool Colorado video saw today YT

Gloria1

An arborist once told me that if owls nest in your trees, it means you have really good vibes.

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Wonderful image Kort.... the Great horned owl is majestic, I just love their yellow eyes, and ear tufts! 🤩 🫶✨

Nature’s Eye🌱1

Amazing you get to see this magnificent owl near your home.

Emmanuel E.1

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲! 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲. 🦉

Ali Ball 🇬🇧🇺🇦

@aliball.bsky.social

#BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls - Any owl from the two owl families. Alt: #BirdNameG any bird whose common name starts with the letter G! A great grey owl (Strix nebulosa)

57645d ago

houndheaven2.bsky.social4

Here's a #barredowl from #tennessee that enjoys the pond that I built for her.

Giovana Logan1

Such a regal bird! The facial disc on Great Grey Owls always looks so incredible

Emmanuel E.1

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🦉

Cam Newton1

I was lucky enough to see one in flight through the daytime old growth of the S Oregon Gearhart Wilderness (1990s).

HLK

@hlkfotos.com

Short-eared owl flyby. #BirdOfTheDay #AwesomeOwls 📷🌿🪶🦉

A photo of a short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) in flight, flying toward the left of frame, with its head turned looking toward the camera. It is a medium-sized owl with brown and cream barred plumage, a round face, very short ear tufts, and bright golden-yellow eyes. The lighting is soft and diffuse, in the evening, and the background is blurred autumn foliage in browns and oranges.

40945d ago

Cats Pajamas1

Fantastic owl, HLK! Love the patterns on the wings.

SaraG1

Really nice capture! So crisp and clear and that face!! Swoon!

Barrie Cull1

Stunning flight shot HLK ! 🤩

Valarie Smith1

That is one hell of a shot!

Doug Engstrom1

Awesome shot. I can't believe the level of detail you captured on an in-flight.

Charlie Ludwig

@chuck4242.bsky.social

My favorite shot I was able to get of one of the juvenile Barred Owls that were hunting in my yard for a couple of weeks straight last month. #BirdOfTheDay #AwesomeOwls #Birds #Birding #Wildlife #Nature #Photography #Animals #Photos #Photo #ECK #Owls

A lone juvenile Barred Owl is perched on a branch lit up in the evening light with a natural spotlight.

40444d ago

Rina

@rina2012.bsky.social

"Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls Alt: #BirdNameG" A snowy owl with a beautiful plumage pattern 🪶 And aren’t those eyes beautiful? 😍 #birds #photography #nature #naturephotography #thelittlethings #ECK

A front-facing portrait of a snowy owl, looking directly into the camera with its dark beak slightly open, as if it were calling out. The bird has brilliant white plumage with dense, dark brown patches on its breast and wings. Its large, round eyes shine an intense golden-yellow. The background is blurred and consists of lush, green foliage.

35945d ago

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Absolutely gorgeous capture Rina!! So beautiful 👏✨️🥰 💯

alisonwillis1.bsky.social1

Fabulous capture of a stunning bird.

Wendy Miller

@burrowingowl.bsky.social

When the light hits the burrowing owl's retinas at just the right angle, you get this. #AwesomeOwls #birdoftheday 🪶

Burrowing owl perched on a rock. His pupils are dilated, but they look red and not black because of the way the light is reflected off the owl's retinas.

32045d ago

cageyratfish (UTC-7) 🐟🏳️‍⚧️14

*the high-pitched whine of powerful lasers charging up* 😹😻

Melba Toast Packin3

All I want is owls that shoot frickin laser beams

Gwen 🌈🌺📚2

Not a bit scary 😬

Kokopelli Design2

Hahahaha, this is just too good! Laser eyes!

Rhonda Howard1

Can imagine red laser beams coming out of those eyes…

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

Taking Sam out folks. Be back to help Helen later. Another finch. This time the green variety. 😁 Alt: #BirdNameG any bird whose common name starts with the letter G! #BirdOfTheDay #birds #photography #ECK

A vibrant European Greenfinch perched on a slender, budding branch, facing right. Its plumage is a striking mix of olive-green, yellow and soft grey, with bright yellow flashes along the folded wings and tail. The bird’s pale, conical bill and dark, glossy eye are clearly visible, while fine feather detail gives its head and body a soft, textured appearance. The dark, softly blurred background provides strong contrast, making the Greenfinch stand out beautifully.

27545d ago

Mr Garden1

Beautifully captured. 👌 It looks a bit grumpy. 😂

Sharon1

A beautiful coloured bird, Alan 💛

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Such a beauty in green Alan. Have a great day and walk with Sam dear friend 🤗😘

BelleAB1

Great shot of a beautiful bird, Alan! Hope you had a lovely walk with Sam! 🤗🐾

Justine Jones1

💚 The subtle colors give it a natural elegance that’s easy to admire. 😀

Tim Osborne Photography 🍁

@timosborne.ca

With today's #BirdOfTheDay theme being #AwesomeOwls, how could I not participate?! Here a few of my favourite owls. #birds #wildlife

A Great Grey Owl jumps off of a fence post and is about to dive towards the snow in search of a meal.

20845d ago

Helen Bennett 🌿2

Fantastic images as usual.... some stunning owls!! 👏🦉

Rando2

Saw whets are the cutest little murder birds.

BigFigNewton2024 🇺🇦1

Wow, the intensity of that first one!

bootedredditor.bsky.social1

I cropped myself out 😉

David Bradley

@sciencebase.com

The web designer's favourite owl, Short-eared Owl #BirdOfTheDay #AwesomeOwls

20445d ago

Rob Crank Photography

@robcrank68.bsky.social

Good morning folks. It's @helenbennett.bsky.social turn to host #BirdOfTheDay and her themes are #AwesomeOwls, any Owl from the 2 Owl families. The Alt theme is #BirdNameG, any bird whose common name starts with G. #birds #ECK @rspb.bsky.social #CanonR5mkii #ukbirding #BirdLife #photography

Gary Green Woodpecker was surprised to see the paparazzi walk round the corner, with their lenses primed and ready to take his photo before he'd brushed his plumage.
So he shouted at them to wait until he was ready, but those damned paparazzi never listen because that doesn't get them their stories.
So Gary didn't hang around long because he doesn't like those who don't listen to him, sorry but not sorry Gary 😂

Captured at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

20445d ago

Mike12

A bit late in the day, but... It's @helenbennett.bsky.social turn to host #BirdOfTheDay and her themes are #AwesomeOwls, any Owl from the 2 Owl families. Photo taken at the Screech Owl & Animal Sanctuary, Cornwall Great Grey Owl; Logan Billy "https://screechowlsanctuary.co.uk"

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Great set of photos Rob 👍

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Another fine set, Rob. Reckon I'm a little partial to the Owl though. 😍

Connect2Nature 🇨🇦

@invisitech.bsky.social

#Connect2Nature #Birds #BirdoftheDay On the lookout for #AwesomeOwls. This Great Grey showcases its ability to focus while flying. #Nature #Photography

21845d ago

franceflo.bsky.social1

Always love their feathery 🪶 legs 😄

Amy Gann

@amygann.bsky.social

Burrowing owl shakes fist at those kids that had the audacity to walk on his lawn. For the #birdoftheday theme of #awesomeowls #birds #owl #burrowingowl #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A burrowing owl with one foot raised and its head scrunched down
While it looks annoyed, it was stretching in the morning sun

20145d ago

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

A truly fantastic photo. Love it, and love Owls. 😍 Great photography. 👌🏼

Neil Cameron

@neilcam57.bsky.social

Helen Bennett 's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls Sadly, I've only ever shot 1 species: imm. Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia #ECK #birds #birdphotography #birdsofbluesky #wildlife #nature #Photography #Nikon #PhotographersUnited

An immature Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) peers down from high in a eucalypt tree at St Lucia, Brisbane. The bird has its back to the camera and shows the banding brown colour more reminiscent of an adult. Similarly, with the facial mask. However, the bird is clearly not yet mature as it shows it's brilliant white down in many places. Not least of which is around its large yellow talons.

19545d ago

Rob MacLennan3

Wish that I saw more owls. The only one that I ever caught was a Northern Pygmy Owl who decided to jump from the grass on one side of a trail, to the branch of a tree just 10 feet from me on the other side. Clearly he was not going to share his lunch. All of 6 inches from top of head to tip of tail

Alan H1

What a beautiful shot Neil. Cracking composition.

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Wow, just look at those eyes! Great image Neil 🤩👏

Emmanuel E.1

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗢𝘄𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱—𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁. 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗲.

Nigel Bell 🍉1

That particular Powerful Owl breeding pair (& offspring) are *so photographed* - they've started petitioning the UofQ Senate for assistance against paparazzi. Sadly, as their communications keep getting confused for merely being partially chewed Ringtails, their campaign remains somewhat stalled. 🙁

Amy Gann1

It is gorgeous. Lovely shot, Neil!