A dark owl with blue-gray wings and distinctive facial disc flies low over golden grassland in winter, wings outstretched in hunting flight.

Winter Hunter in Golden Light

A Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) courses low over grassland in Washington’s Skagit Wildlife Area during golden hour, wings spread wide as it searches for small mammals beneath the winter grass. © 2026 Chris Smith. All rights reserved.

Species

Asio flammeus (Short-eared Owl)

NT Near Threatened

Ecoregion

Puget lowland forests

Habitat

Grassland

Places

Skagit

Protected Areas

Skagit-Snoqualmie

Indigenous Lands

Cayuse

Season

Winter

Lighting

Golden Hour

Genre

Birds in Flight

Behavior

Flying (In Flight)

Capture Technique

Selective Focus (Bokeh)

Life Stage

Adult

Camera Details

Camera: NIKON Z 9
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/2000s
ISO: 1000
Focal Length: 800mm

© 2026 smithographs. All rights reserved. This image may not be reproduced without permission.