132 



Economic Status. The economic effect of this bird as far as it goes is a 

 beneficial one. Data on its foods are rather scanty. Of 9 stomachs 

 examined, 1 contained a small bird; 7, mice; and 4^ other mammals. It is 

 evidently an efficient mouser. 



371. Arctic Saw-whet Owl. Richardson's owl. fr. — la nyctale de Richard- 

 son. Cryptoglaux funerea. L, 10. A small, hornless, grey owl. Ashy-brown above with 

 round white spots, whitish below vaguely striped. The colour pattern is soft and the 

 design vague and diffused. 



Distinctions. This species resembles the Screech Owl in size and general grey colour- 

 ing, but in nothing else; it has not the horns of that species and the colour pattern shows 

 no sharpness anywhere. The coloiu* scheme shows too httle distinction from that of the 

 Saw-whet to be clearly differentiated here. Its decidedly larger size, however, wiU char- 

 acterize it. 



Field Marks. It is too rare to identify by such slight field marks as could be suggested. 



Nesting. Usually in holes in trees. 



Distribution. The northern woods to the limit of trees from the Mackenzie River 

 valley eastwards. 



SUBSPECIES. This is a European as weU as an American species, but the form 

 inhabiting the New World is subspecifically separated from that of the Old World under 

 the name of Richardson's Owl C. f. richardsoni. 



This species is perhaps the rarest of the Canadian Owls, and within the 

 boundaries covered by this work is only an occasional and irregular winter 

 visitor. 



Economic Status. Though too rare to have any noticeable economic 

 influence it must be regarded as a beneficial species. Of 9 stomachs 

 examined, 1 contained a small bird; 7, mice; and 4, other mammals. 



372. Saw-whet Owl. acadian owl. fr. — la nyctale d'acadie. Cryptoglaux 

 acadic. L, 8. A very small owl. Above, colour is warm ashy-brown vaguely marked with 

 inconspicuous white spots especially about the back of the neck, changing on the head to 

 fine sharp stripes which join in a hne over the facial disk. Below, white, with light brown 

 streaks and a vague tendency to form a solid breast-bar. A rare plumage of this owl was 

 long thought to indicate a distinct species which was given the name Kirtland's Owl, 

 It is now, however, understood to be but an evanescent juvenile plumage of the above, 

 though the cause of its rarity is not known. Above, it is solid brown, rather redder than 

 the adult, and extending across breast in a rufescent band; below, even ochre. The 

 facial disk on outside of the eyes is almost black, in striking contrast to the white over 

 and between eyes. 



Distinctions. In ordinary plumage so nearly like Richardson's Owl in colour as to be 

 separated from it only by size. Being without horns or any sharply marked colour pattern 

 it can be easily distinguished from the Screech Owl. 



Field Marks. Very small size and lack of horns are the best field marks. 



Nesting. In holes in trees, sometimes natural, at other times those made by wood- 

 peckers or squirrels. 



Distribution. Most of temperate North America. Its breeding is irregular and 

 usually in the northern parts of its range or at high elevations farther south. 



SUBSPECIES. There are two subspecies of the Saw- whet Owl occurring in Canada; 

 but only one, the Acadian Owl, the type form, is ever found in the east. 



This diminutive owl is the smallest of the Birds of Prey in eastern 

 Canada. It haunts the dark tangle of cedar and tamarack swamps, 

 passing the day close against the trunk of a tree where its plumage blends 

 indistinguishably into the bark. It has such great reliance in its protective 

 coloration that it will allow close approach and can at times be almost taken 

 in the hand. It takes its vernacular name from its call notes which are said 

 to resemble the sound made by filing or whetting a saw. 



