HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



185 



374a. M. f. idahoensis M< //////. DWARF 



SCREECH OWL. 



Similar to the flammulated but smaller and 

 paler, especially on under parts in which the 

 ground is white, and the marking's restricted ; 

 facial ring bright tawny brown. Winq: 4.S6. 

 tail 2.4i'. 



Distribution. Idaho and eastern Washing-- 

 ton. 



GENUS BUBO. 



18-23 



General Characters. -- Length : IJS-LIo : ear 

 tufts conspicno'ds ; ear opening's small, without 

 anterior flap, the two ears not distinctly differ- 

 ent ; wing with '2 or o quills cut out : toes cov- 

 ered with short but dense feathers ; claws 

 wholly exposed. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



From Biological MH-V.-V. I". S. 

 Dept. of Agriculture. 



1. Upper parts dark colored. Fig. 2-18. Dwarf Screech Owl. 



2. Feet barred with black and buffy pacificus, p. 186. 



2'. Feet barred with black and rusty brown . . . saturatus. p. 186. 

 1'. Upper parts light colored. 



2. Upper parts largely gray and buffy .... pallesceiis. p. 185. 



2'. Upper parts largely white arc tic us. p. 186. 



3 75 a. Bubo virginianus pallescens Stone. WESTERN HORNED 

 OWL. 



Adults. Ear tufts blackish ; iris bright yellow ; ring around face black ; 

 throat white ; rest of under parts white or buffy, mottled and barred with 

 brownish ; flanks buffy ; upper parts mottled dark brown, light grayish, 

 and buffy, lighter colors prevailing ; wing quills and tail banded with dull 

 brown ; whole plumage irregularly varied with buffy. tawny, whitish, and 

 dusky. Young : wing quills and tail feathers as in adult, rest of plumage 

 dull buffy or ochraceous, everywhere barred with dusky. Male : length 

 18-23, extent about 49-52, wing about 14.50-15.25, tail 8.25. Female : 

 length 22-25, extent about 57, wing 16, tail 9. 



Distribution. Western United States, east through the Plains, casually 

 to Wisconsin and Illinois ; and from British Columbia and Manitoba south 

 over the Mexican tablelands. 



Nest. A hole in a hollow tree, cliff, bank, or cave, or an old nest of a 

 crow or hawk. Eggs : usually 2 or 3, white. 



Food. Largely mammals such as rabbits, prairie dogs, ground squir- 

 rels, skunks, and wood rats, game birds, waterfowl, smaller land birds, 

 and, in settled regions, poultry. 



The eyesight of the horned owls seems to be better than that of 

 most owls, and Dr. Fisher thinks that in the breeding season they 

 hunt indifferently night or day. In disposition, be says, they are 

 "fierce and untamable, and in point of strength and courage infe- 

 rior to none of our rapacious birds." Speaking of their food habits, 

 the doctor says that ''a bird so powerful and voracious may at times 

 be a source of great benefit, while at other times it may be the cause 



