A juvenile Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) spreads one wing assertively while standing atop a mound of rocky desert earth, its piercing yellow-green eyes staring directly into the lens. Warm backlit haze softens the arid background, highlighting the owlet's fluffy tan-and-brown plumage and long legs in a bold, confrontational pose.

Defiant Stance at Dusk

Burrowing Owls · Sonny Bono NWR

"Defiant Stance at Dusk" is a fine art burrowing owls photograph by Kathy King, made in Sonny Bono NWR.

A juvenile Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) spreads one wing assertively while standing atop a mound of rocky desert earth, its piercing yellow-green eyes staring directly into the lens. Warm backlit haze softens the arid background, highlighting the owlet's fluffy tan-and-brown plumage and long legs in a bold, confrontational pose.

It was captured on May 2, 2026.

It is available as a premium archival print on HD metal, acrylic, canvas, or fine art paper, produced in the USA.

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