Part 13

Largest of American Owls, with a general resemblance to the Barred Owl, but nearly a third larger and with yellow eyes. L. 27.

Range. Northern North America, rarely straggling to United States in winter.

Cambridge, very rare and irregular W.V. SE. Minn., rare W.V.

RICHARDSON'S OWL

Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni

A small Owl about the size of a Screech Owl, but without ear-tufts. It is grayish brown above and both head and back are spotted with black; the underparts are white heavily streaked with grayish brown.

Range. Northern Canada and Alaska, rarely visiting the eastern United States in winter. We are not likely to meet this Owl.

Cambridge, very rare W.V.

SAW-WHET OWL

Cryptoglaux acadica acadica. Case 2, Fig. 41

Smallest of our Owls; eyes yellow, no ear-tufts. L. 8.

Range. Nests in the northern United States and northward, south in the Alleghanies to Maryland; winters rather rarely and irregularly southward to Virginia.

Washington, rare W.V., Oct.-Mch. Ossining, rather rare W.V., Oct. 28-Jan. 13. Cambridge, not uncommon, W.V., Nov.-Mch. N. Ohio, rare P.R. SE. Minn., uncommon. P.R.

A tame little Owl which sometimes may be caught in one's hand. It passes the day in dense growth, usually evergreens. Its note resembles the "sound made when a large-tooth saw is being filed."

SCREECH OWL

Otus asio asio. Case 1, Figs. 13, 14

The two sexes are alike, the two color phases being individual and representing dichromatism. Among animals, gray and black squirrels furnish a similar case. The ear-like feather-tufts give the bird a cat-like appearance, hence the name 'Cat Owl.' The young are downy-looking creatures evenly barred with dusky. L. 9-1/2.

Range. Screech Owls are found throughout the greater part of the Western Hemisphere. Our eastern form occurs in the eastern United States from Canada southward. The Florida race (O. a. floridanus, Case 3, Fig. 19) is smaller and of a darker gray than the northern bird. The 'red' phase is rare.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, common P.R. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

This, the smallest of our 'horned' Owls, is also the commonest. It lives near and sometimes in our homes even when they are situated in towns. Its tremulous, wailing whistle (in no sense a 'screech') is therefore one of our most characteristic twilight bird-notes. Mice and insects form the greater part of the Screech Owl's fare. Four to six white eggs are laid in a hollow tree, bird-box, or similar site in April.

GREAT HORNED OWL

Bubo virginianus virginianus. Case 1, Fig. 16

Largest of the 'horned' Owls. L. 22.

Range. Western Hemisphere in many forms; our form is confined to the eastern United States. A Permanent Resident.

Washington, rare P.R. Ossining, tolerably common P.R. Cambridge, uncommon, autumn or winter. N. Ohio, rare P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

The Great Horned Owl retreats before the civilization that destroys the forests in which it lives. In thinly settled regions its deep-toned, monotone, whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, whooo, whooo is still a characteristic bird voice, but most of us hear it only when we camp in the wilderness. The bird's fierce nature has won for it the name of "tiger among birds." Rabbits, skunks, game birds and smaller prey form its fare. The 2-3 white eggs are laid in an abandoned Hawk, Crow, or squirrel nest in February; it is the first of our northern birds to nest.

SNOWY OWL

Nyctea nyctea