Part 42

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.

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.

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.

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.

INDEX.

A Anhinga, 68 Auk, Great, 30 Razor-billed, 29 Avocet, American, 144

B Bittern, American, 118 Cory Least, 119 Least, 119 Bob-white, 177 Florida, 177 Texan, 177 Booby, 66 Blue-faced, 65 Brant, 108

C Caracara, Audubon, 220 Chachalaca, 191 Coot, American, 140 Cormorant, 69 Double-crested, 70 Florida, 70 Mexican, 71 Crane, Little Brown, 131 Sandhill, 131 Whooping, 130 Curlew, Eskimo, 166 Hudsonian, 165 Long-billed, 164

D Dovekie, 31 Dove, Ground, 195 Inca, 195 Mourning, 193 White-fronted, 194 White-winged, 194 Dowitcher, 148 Long-billed, 148 Duck, Am. Golden-eye, 94 Am. Scaup, 92 Baldpate, 83 Barrow Golden-eye, 94 Black, 79 Black-bellied Tree, 109 Buffle-head, 95 Canvas-back, 91 Eider, American, 99 Northern, 99 King, 100 Florida, 80 Fulvous Tree, 110 Gadwall, 81 Harlequin, 97 Lesser Scaup, 92 Long-tailed, 96 Labrador, 98 Mallard, 78 Mottled, 80 Old Squaw, 96 Pintail, 88 Redhead, 90 Ring-necked, 93 Ruddy, 103 Scoter, Am., 101 Surf, 102 White-winged, 101 Shoveller, 87 Teal, Blue-winged, 85 Cinnamon, 86 Green-winged, 84 Widgeon, 82 Wood, 89

E Eagle, Bald, 213 Golden, 212 Egret, American, 122 Reddish, 124 Eider, American, 99 Northern, 99 King, 100

F Falcon, Prairie, 215 Flamingo, American, 112 Frigate Bird, 74 Fulmar, 58

G Gallinule, Florida, 139 Purple, 138 Gannet, 67 Godwit, Hudsonian, 157 Marbled, 156 Goose, Am. White-fronted, 106 Cackling, 107 Canada, 107 Blue, 105 Snow, Greater, 104 Snow, Lesser, 104 Goshawk, American, 203 Grebe, Eared, 20 Horned, 19 Holbœll, 18 Least, 21 Pied-billed, 22 Western, 17 Grouse, Canada, 182 Dusky, 181 Richardson, 181 Ruffed, 183 Sage, 188 Sharp-tailed, 187 Sharp-tailed Prairie, 187 Spruce, 182 Guillemot, Black, 27 Mandt, 27 Gull, Black-backed, 39 Bonaparte, 44 Franklin, 43 Glaucous, 37 Herring, 40 Iceland, 38 Ivory, 35 Kittiwake, 36 Kumlien, 38 Laughing, 42 Ring-billed, 41 Ross, 45 Sabine, 46 Gyrfalcon, 214 White, 214

H Hawk, Am. Rough-legged, 210 Am. Sparrow, 219 Broad-winged, 209 Cooper, 202 Duck, 216 Ferruginous Rough-leg, 211 Harlan, 205 Harris, 204 Krider, 205 Marsh, 200 Pigeon, 217 Red-shouldered, 206 Red-tailed, 205 Sennett White-tailed, 207 Sharp-shinned, 201 Swainson, 208 Heath Hen, 186 Heron, Great White, 120 Great Blue, 121 Green, 127 Little Blue, 126 Louisiana, 125 Night, Black-crowned, 128 Night, Yellow-crowned, 129 Snowy, 123

I Ibis, Glossy, 116 Scarlet, 115 White, 114 White-faced Glossy, 116 Wood, 117

J Jacana, Mexican, 176 Jaeger, Long-tailed, 34 Parasitic, 34 Pomarine, 33

K Killdeer, 179 Kite, Everglade, 199 Mississippi, 198 Swallow-tailed, 197 White-tailed, 198 Kittiwake, 36 Knot, 150

L Limpkin, 132 Loon, 23 Black-throated, 24 Red-throated, 25