Short-eared Owl 199 



while two nests found at 10,500 feet only contained two 

 eggs. These are oval in shape, white in colour and 

 measure 1'55 x 1"25. 



Warren found a pair with a young one at Sand Creek, 

 near Medano Ranch, June 24th, at an old Magpie's nest. 



Short-eared Owl. Asio flammeus. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 367— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 231 

 (Otus hrachyotus) ; Beckham 85, p. 143 {A. accipitrinus) ; Thome 87, 

 p. 264 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 66 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Cooke 

 97, pp. 77, 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163. 



Description. — Female — Above variegated with dusky brown, pale 

 tawny and white, the markings chiefly streaks, with barring on the wings 

 and tail ; below the breast streaked like the back ; posteriorly white, 

 finely streaked with brown on the lower-breast and flanks ; immaculate 

 on the legs, abdomen and under tail-coverts ; facial disk whitish, 

 becoming black round the eye ; ear-tufts small and inconspicuous, 

 under an inch ; iris bright yellow% bill and claws dusky bluish-horn. 

 Length 14-5 ; wing 12 ; tail 6-0 ; cuknen -9 ; tarsus 1'6. 



The males average a little smaller. Young birds are rather darker 

 and have a black face. 



Distribution. — The whole of America from Alaska and Mackenzie to 

 Patagonia, except the "West Indies ; and in the Old World tliroughout 

 Em-ope, Asia and northern Africa. In North America it breeds chiefly 

 north of the United States boundary, and is a rare resident south of 

 this, though fairly abundant in winter, when its numbers are reinforced 

 from the north. 



In Colorado the Short-eared or Marsh-Owl is chiefly a winter visitor, 

 found most abundantly in the plains, but extending up into the parks, 

 even as high as Breckenridge, where it was found by Carter in winter. 

 The only writer who alludes to its nesting in the State is Morrison. He 

 reports that it breeds in the south-western and south-eastern portions. 

 It is known to nest in Nebraska and Kansas. All other records are 

 winter ones, viz. Niwot, March, and Longmont, December (Rockwell 

 apud Henderson), Denver, winter (H. G. Smith), Orchard, March 28th 

 (Warren), Pueblo, April (Beckham), Fort Lyon (Thome), Mosca, 

 January 22nd (Warren), Mesa co., winter (Rockwell), Fort Lewis, 

 February (Morrison). 



Habits. — The Short-eared Owl is often seen abroad 

 in day time, especially on cloudy days, and is much less 

 nocturnal than the Long-eared Owl. It prefers the 



