BARN OWLS 



173 



Distribution. — Breeds from Hudson 

 Bay and Alaska south throug-hout the 

 United States and Mexico ; migrates to 

 the West Indies and northern South 

 America 



Nest. — On the ground, in trees, on 

 telegraph poles, cliffs, or deserted build- 

 ings, made of large sticks, brush, and 

 rubbish, such as weeds and cornstalks 

 lined with softer materials like seaweed, 

 cedar bark, and corn leaves. J^ggs : usu- 

 ally o, varying- greatly iii size, color, and 

 markings. Ground color generally white, 

 sometimes so evenly overlaid as to ap- 

 pear huffy or vinaceous. and usually heav- 

 ily blotched with brown and wine red. 



Food. — Fish. 



With almost gull-like persistency 

 the fish hawk follows the rivers and 

 lakes, circling on crooked wings above 

 the surface of the water or perching 

 near the shore on the top of some old 

 dead tree overlooking the rippling 

 surface. When a fish is sighted below the long wings are folded 

 and with a meteor-like plunge the bird sinks into the water, imbed- 

 ding the long hooked talons in the back of the fish. With a few^ 

 powerful strokes of the wings it is up again, carrying the fish with 

 talons planted one ahead of the other in its back, to make it go head 

 first instead of sidewise, so that it will cut the air. With its prey 

 the osprey makes for its nest, or if it has no nest flies to a branch 

 where it can devour its quarry at leisure. 



Every spring the fish hawi<s add a new layer to the old nest, and 

 if undisturbed will use the same structure as long as the sticks hold 

 together. The nests are generally scattered and by no means com- 

 mon, but in places where suckers and other fish are abundant and 

 easily caught, the ospreys sometimes live in large colonies, coming 

 back year after year to the same nests. Veunon Bailey. 



Ill Bi 



(.-ical Survey, I". S. De 

 of Agriculture. 



Fig. 238. Fish Hawk. 



FAMILY STRIGIDiE BARN OWLS. 



GENUS STRIX. 



365. Strix pratincola /iotiap. Barn Owl. 



Wings long, pointed, folding bi'vond tail ; t;iil short, about half as long' 

 a.s wing- ; tai-sus nearly twice as long as middlf toe 

 witliont <l:i\v. closely feathered above, slightly feath- 

 ered and Itiistly l)el()\v, as on toes ; feathers of back of 

 tiirsuH pointing; upward ; inner toe as lon<i' as middle 

 toe ; inner edye of middle claw pectinated. 



Facial di.sk pure white to tawny ; under parts pure 



