Young Burrowing Owl fluttering on a fenceYoung Burrowing Owl fluttering on a fence – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited (June 22, 2015)

Leopards don’t change their spots but juvenile Burrowing Owls do change their spots on their chests as they mature. When the young Burrowing Owls first come out of the burrow their chests are a creamy buff color without markings.

Serious looking juvie Burrowing OwlSerious looking juvie Burrowing Owl – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited (July 27, 2009)

As the juveniles grow older darker colored bars start to appear in their belly close to the wings. It doesn’t seem to take long for the changes to happen.

Juvenile Burrowing Owl perched on a gnarly fence postJuvenile Burrowing Owl perched on a gnarly fence post – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited (July 13, 2015)

The darker bars are soon joined by spots of lighter colored feathers and the changes in the plumage seem to start at the sides and move towards the center of their chests.

The first and third images in this post are owls I am photographing this year at the same burrow and the images were taken 21 days apart. They might even be the same owl.

Burrowing Owl juvenile looking up into the skyBurrowing Owl juvenile looking up into the sky – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited (August 2, 2009)

Before long the flanks are all spotted and there is only a buffy colored stripe in the center of their chests.

Three juvenile Burrowing OwlsThree juvenile Burrowing Owls – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/250, ISO 250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited (August 21, 2009)

In a few weeks time the chests of young burrowing owls can go from unmarked to spotted all the way across the chest and down the belly.

These images are from different years and two separate burrow locations and I used them because the juvenile Burrowing Owls I am photographing this year haven’t matured enough to show all their spots.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Burrowing Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.

I don’t know if the Burrowing Owls in Florida show the same plumage changes as they mature.