We live in Abilene TX in the middle of town, 1/3 acre lot w/lots of bare tree branches – mostly pecan. NOT in the woods, and well east of what the range maps show for this bird.

It was perched on a bare branch just outside our kitchen door. Our dog was outside briefly, but after 70 degrees yesterday, it’s very cold — temps hovering around 32 w/snow flurries and gusty north winds — so Tom (husband) looked out to let the dog back in. Dog was busy checking out something in backyard, in no rush to come in yet. Tom suddenly motioned for me to come quick and see something.

Never have seen a bird quite like it. It looked over at us watching thru the kitchen door window. Looked around, fluffed its feathers and then flew away. Altho the camera was right next to us, it all happened too fast and we were too stunned anyway.

Because of the colors, I thought it must be someone’s escaped pet at first. I saw some blue – almost turquoise – feathers, and rusty orange on its face, head & back. It didn’t quite look like a parakeet or a parrot and Tom said no, it was definitely not a pet. He thought it looked like some kind of bird of prey. It had a relatively flat face, so when he suggested that, i said it might be an owl, tho very tiny. And the wingspan was pretty wide for its size.

Grabbed my Bird Book. A month ago, we had what i decided was a female Sharp Shinned Hawk lunching on a blue jay. Got lots of photos of that one…she hung around a while. And Tom took some photos of another, larger bird of prey earlier in the season, just sitting on a treetop. This one looked very different from those – at least to me. (would never have thought of bird of prey!)

From photos online and descriptions, i do think this was the Flammulated Owl. All descriptions say this owl is secretive and nocturnal, but this was in the middle of the afternoon. Also, area this seems kind of out of its range. However, after seeing drawings and photos…one taken in the Davis Mtns of West TX…and one in Galveston (!!), i guess it could be. Sooo…i wish we had photos to show you.

I think it did have dark eyes – definite characteristic i now know…but we were both so focused on the colors of the feathers and shape of its face and its size that didn’t all match up in our heads, so neither of us can say positively about the eye color, even tho it looked directly at us. And was very cute!