Great horned owlet (Bubo virginianus), Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, 2016.

This extremely adaptable owl is native to the Americas. Though it prefers rabbits, hares and rodents, it will freely hunt anything it can overtake. It is also one of the earliest nesting birds in North America, often laying eggs weeks or months before other raptorial birds! This owlet, named Centennial, was the first to hatch from a nest with four eggs here at the park. Centennial will spend several more days diligently practicing between rests until mastering flight.