Short Eared Owl from the Galapagos Islands

Short Eared Owl 

There is a specific sub-species of Short Eared Owl that live in the Galapagos Islands.  They are found on many of the islands.  They hunt smaller birds.  The island they live on has lots of volcanic caves that are all over the lava field.  OK, I admit, it is a cooled lava field so it is made up of Basalt.  The short eared owls will sneak into a cave where one of the prey birds live and when that bird comes home it gets grabbed, killed and eaten.  These owls sneak around like a cat when they are hunting.  As frequently happens on islands, the limited food supply leads to the Galapagos Short Eared Owl to be smaller than its mainland cousins.  The Basalt on the islands is oxidized to be a brown color and the owl's brown spotted feathers are perfect camouflage.  So if you color this drawing...the rocks and the owl are brown,and tan, but not black.  When lava first cools it IS black, but it oxidizes in the rain and sun and turns brown.  

The sub-species of the Galapagos Short Eared Owl has the scientific name of :  

 Asio flammeus galapagoensis.