From World Bird Sanctuary
Great Horned Owls, like many raptor species, do not show sexual dimorphism in their plumage between males and females. There is often a size difference, with females generally being larger than the males, but this is not a guaranteed way to tell them apart as there is a overlap in the weight ranges. 23-571 weighs in at 1300g at a healthy weight, which puts them in the weight range of a larger male, but not outside the realm of possibility of a smaller female.
You can compare 571’s size to the 11 surrounding babies that they are currently fostering. Some are smaller and others larger. At this age, you can start to see some mature plumage coming in amongst the fluffy body feathers of the babies. This indicates that the babies have reached their full size and all that remains to grow is the rest of their plumage.
Our team has suspected that 571 was male, both based on their size and their less aggressive demeanor. The DNA test results are now back and 571 is… Male!
23-571 joins Murphy in our club of elite foster dads and needs a name that exemplifies how exceptional he is!! Put your suggestions for a fitting name in the comments below. We will pick our favorite few and then return for a vote. Suggestion period is open until 5/21.
He’s the one in the middle. I know it’s a smaller pic so it may be hard to see.
I hope they officially reveal his name on Father’s Day.
That would be a great idea!
I’m not on Facebook and will not participate - but he looks like a Horton to me. Well, and there’s Horton hears a Who! :D
I know many here don’t like the Facebook links, and I don’t disagree with anyone for that. I was going to delete my account until I started doing this since it is the best way to get up to date info from the rescues, so that’s about all I use it for.
Don’t worry, I will share all the good stuff here and face all the tracking and cookies for you!
No worries. I just don’t like Facebook/Meta and their Business model. But a lot of animal rescues and other groups organise things on FB and share info. So there’s a good side.
I just meant that if someone else likes it and wants to enter they can use it.
But thank you for being our data protection officer. (I can’t share pics at the moment as the instance hosting my account is having technical problems insert person taking the knives for peacefully sleeping person meme)
I completely understand and agree. I’ve thought about offering to submit things on the group’s behalf, but that also would reveal my identity, so I won’t be doing that!