Nest.—They lay from four to seven pure white eggs, usually in old crow
nests.
Range.—Resident from the Gulf to Nova Scotia and Manitoba.
[Illustration: ]
SHORT-EARED OWL
367. Asio flammeus. 15.5 in.
Ear tufts very short; general color buffy, not nearly as brown nor as
dark as the last species usually is. They are not nearly as nocturnal as
most of the owls, and most of their hunting is done about dusk, when
they may be seen flying close to the ground over marshes or low land.
Their flight is perfectly silent, which aids them in securing their prey
of field mice, which they usually get without stopping in their flight,
just swooping down, extending their long legs, armed with wicked little
claws, and it is all over with the little rodent, he being carried to a
nearby stump, and devoured, fur, bones and all.
Notes.—A very short, shrill cry, evidently their call note, and a low
clucking uttered as they swoop over your head; besides the usual
snapping of the bill.
Nest.—On the ground, usually in marshes; the four to seven eggs are pure
white, (1.55 × 1.25).
Range.—Breeds locally from the Gulf to the Arctic regions; winters
throughout the United States.
[Illustration: ]
BARRED OWL
368. Strix varia. 20 in.
Eyes dark brown. This is the most abundant of the large owls throughout
its range. It has no ears. This species is the common “hoot owl,” that
is the terror of small children and many older ones. They are noisy
birds, and two of them like to get at opposite sides of a piece of woods
and talk to each other. Their notes are very variable but are oftenest
combinations of “who-whos” and “too-toos,” often ending in a mournful
wail. They spend the day in slumber, unless routed out of the dense
trees where they rest, by crows or human beings. They are one of the
least harmful of the family and should be protected.
Nest.—Usually in hollow trees, but sometimes in old crow nests. Eggs
pure white (1.95 × 1.65).
Range.—Resident in eastern North America. 368a. Florida Barred Owl
(alleni), is smaller, darker and the toes are unfeathered, as are those
of 368b, Texas Barred Owl, found in southern Texas.
[Illustration: ]
GREAT GRAY OWL
370. Scotiaptex nebulosa. 27 in.
Tail long; eyes small and yellow. This large owl is only found in
Northern United States during the winter. Its tail is unusually long, as
are all its feathers, thereby making it appear a very much larger bird
than it really is; it weighs but little more than the Barred Owl. They
do not appear to be in especial abundance anywhere, but occasionally
large flights of them will occur in some parts of the country; they seem
to occur most freely in Minnesota and North Dakota. They are nocturnal
like the majority of the family, and subsist largely upon mice and
hares.
Nest.—Of sticks, in trees, usually pines, in heavily wooded districts;
eggs white (2.15 × 1.70).
Range.—Breeds from southern Labrador, Hudson Bay and Alaska northward;
winters south to the northern border of the United States and casually
to Long Island and Illinois.
[Illustration: ]
RICHARDSON OWL
371. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni. 10 in.
This species bears considerable resemblance to the little Acadian Owls,
but is grayer; the top of the head has numerous round white spots and
the wing coverts are spotted with white.
Nest.—Usually in holes of trees; eggs white.
Range.—Breeds throughout Canada, and possibly in the northern parts of
the northern states; winters south to northern United States.
SAW-WHET OWL; ACADIAN OWL.
372. Cryptoglaux acadica. 8 in.
Smallest of our eastern Owls; no ear tufts. General color brownish above
and white below with the sides streaked with brown. No markings on wing
coverts, but scapulars spotted with white. It is chiefly nocturnal in
its habits and, consequently, is not often seen even if they are
abundant.
Range.—Breeds from northern U. S. northward; winters in northern United
States.
[Illustration: ]
SCREECH OWL
373. Otus asio. 9.5 in.
Two color phases independent of age, sex or season; eyes yellow; has ear
tufts. The Screech Owl, or its sub-species, is found throughout the
United States, and is one of the most abundant and best known of the
family. They are not at all timid, in winter frequently being found in
church towers, while on the outskirts of cities and in the country, they
reside, at all seasons of the year, in orchards. They remain mated for
life, and live in the same tree for years, if not too much disturbed by
curious boys. Both adults and the four young are often found in the nest
together, and they offer no resistance when they are removed by hand.
Their food is almost wholly of insects and rodents.
Notes.—A wavering trill.
Nest.—In holes of trees; eggs white (1.35 × 1.20).
Range.—Resident in U. S. and southern Canada. 373a. Florida Screech Owl
(floridanus), is smaller and slightly darker, 373b. Texas Screech Owl
(mccalli), is smaller and more heavily barred on the sides.
[Illustration: ]
GREAT HORNED OWL
375. Bubo virginianus. 23 in.
Has ear tufts, thus distinguishing it from any other of our large,
powerfully built owls. These large birds are the fiercest, most active
and most destructive of the family. Their size and strength allows them
to kill skunks and woodchucks, as well as poultry, grouse and small
mammals and birds. They seem to be especially fond of skunks, and nearly
all of them that I have seen or handled, have given unmistakable
evidence of their recent and close association with these animals.
Notes.—A deep, dismal “who-who,” and a loud unearthly shriek.
Nest.—Usually in deserted hawk or crow nests, and also in hollow trees;
eggs white (2.25 × 1.85). Feb., March.
Range.—Breeds and resident from the Gulf to Labrador. 375a. Western
Horned Owl (pallescens) is paler colored; found in the plains and
Rockies north to Manitoba. 375b. Arctic Horned Owl (subarcticus), is
chiefly black and white; found in Arctic America, wintering south to
northern border of United States.
[Illustration: ]
SNOWY OWL
376. Nyctea nyctea. 25 in.
No ear tufts. Plumage white, more or less heavily spotted with black,
the female usually being quite strongly barred on the back. They are
locally abundant in the far north, preferring low, mossy lands to the
more timbered districts. Here they find an abundance of food during the
summer months, living upon hares, lemmings, ptarmigan and ducks. They
are about the equal of the Horned Owl in strength, and usually will
weigh a few ounces more; they will frequently kill animals or birds as
heavy, or heavier, than themselves. They also catch a great many fish;
these they get in shallow water among the rock-weed covered stones, by
reaching down quickly and seizing their prey in their strong claws.
Nest.—On the ground in dry portions of marshes; the 2 to 8 eggs are pure
white.
Range.—Breeds from Labrador and Hudson Bay, northward, and possibly
farther south; winters casually to the Middle States, and commonly to
Minnesota and Maine.
[Illustration: ]
AMERICAN HAWK OWL
377a. Surnia ulula caparoch. 15 in.
Tail long and rounded; plumage mottled black, white and gray, with
little, if any, brownish tinge; heavily barred with black. These owls,
curiously resembling a hawk in build, and more so in flight, are very
active and hunt more during the daytime than after dark. They feed
largely upon small rodents and lemmings which are very abundant in their
summer home, and also kill a great many small birds. They seem to be
impartial to wooded districts, or open marshes and low lands, where they
may be seen skimming about close to the ground.
Nest.—Either of sticks in the tops of trees, or in hollow cavities. The
eggs are white, as are those of all owls, and nearly globular in shape
(1.40 × 1.25).
Range.—Breeds from Newfoundland and Manitoba northward, and possibly
farther south on the mountains. Winters south to northern United States,
rarely to New York and Illinois.
[Illustration: ]
BURROWING OWL
378. Speotyto cunicularia hypogœa. 10 in.
Legs very long, and nearly bare on the lower part of tarsi; tail short;
no ear tufts. An abundant and useful species in the prairie regions west
of the Mississippi. They live in the same region that prairie dogs are
found, using deserted burrows of these animals, or taking them by force,
for they are more than a match for these curious animals; they do not,
as has often been said, live peaceably in the same burrows with them. On
the contrary, young prairie dogs, as well as rodents, small snakes and
birds, form a large part of their daily diet. They are both diurnal and
nocturnal, doing most of their hunting after dusk, but often seen
sitting at the mouth of the burrow during the daytime. The six to ten
eggs that they deposit at the end of these burrows are white.
Range.—West of the Miss. Valley, north to Southern Manitoba and British
Columbia. 378a. Florida Burrowing Owl (floridana), is smaller and
whiter; found in southern Florida.