FAMILY AluconidcB 



peckers' holes or in natural cavities in trees 

 like its larger cousin the screech owl. 



FAMILY ALU CON ID M: BARN OWLS 



3^5 Barn owl, Aluco pratincola. 17.00 



Distribution: Cosmopolitan. Found in 

 the greater part of the United States and 

 Mexico, more common in the southern parts 

 of its range. 



The barn owl is the only member of its 

 family that is found in the United States. 

 In plumage it is distinct in appearance from 

 all our owls. The general color is a tawny 

 or orange brown, clouded or marbled with 

 ashy white. The underparts vary all the 

 way from tawny to almost pure w^hite. The 

 feathers are soft and downy. The triangular 

 facial disk is unusual, and the eyes are com- 

 paratively small and black. 



The barn owl is so strictly a bird of the 

 night, and keeps so well hidden during the 

 day, that it may be fairly common in dis- 

 tricts where it is rarely seen or reported. It 

 is fairly common in California in certain dis- 

 tricts but thins out northerly until it becomes 

 rare in northern Oregon and southern Wash- 

 ington. It inhabits wooded settled districts 

 and is resident wherever found. It breeds 

 160 



