A spotlight was briefly directed at a limb above our heads where the shadowy figure of an owl was perched. He looked at us with large eyes before the light was extinguished. He called again before launching himself on a short flight to a different limb. The careful administrator of the spotlight turned out to be Bill Lindemann, bird columnist for the Kerrville and Fredricksburg papers. He conscientiously exposed the bird to as little disruptive light as possible.
Screech owls are probably the most common owls in North America.
They come in two color morphs, which have nothing to do with sex or age. Red or gray individuals may occur in the same brood. The gray morph is usual in Texas. The little owl at Big Bend appeared to be reddish-brown. Both color morphs occur in western and eastern species.