This is a red phase Whiskered-Screech Owl. We will certainly go back here to get better photos in the future. This owl was in the forests above Barranca Rancho Libre off the Durango Highway (north-western Mexico in the mountains east of Mazatlan). We have found these on multiple trips into this area. It appears that about half of the owls of this species are red phase in this area. An Interesting point is that none of the birding groups that we have come upon in this area have been aware of this color phase being here. Neet Owl, quite common in this area, and apparently not widely known that they exist here.