BIRDS OF PREY 



375. Great Horned Owl. 



Bubo virginianus virginianus. 

 Range. — North America, east of the Plains 

 and north to Labrador. 



White Great Horned Owl 



This species and its varieties are the only large Owls having conspicuous ear 

 tufts. They are about 22 inches in length, and have a mottled brown, black and 

 white plumage, barred below. This is also one of the "Hoot Owls," but is not 

 nearly as abundant as the Barred Owl. It is one of the strongest of the family, 

 and captures rabbits, grouse and poultry, and is very often found to have been 

 feeding upon, or to have been in the immediate vicinity of a skunk. They nest 

 very early, January, February and March. Deserted Hawk's or Crow's nests 

 are very frequently used by this bird, if they are located in dense woods. They 

 also sometimes nest in hollow cavities in large trees. They lay from two to 

 four pure white eggs. Size 2.25 x 1.85. 



375a. Western Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus pallescens. 



Range. — Western North America, except the Pacific coast. 



A smaller and ligliter colored form of the preceding, having the same habits 

 and the eggs being indistinguishable from those of the eastern bird. 



.S75b. Arctic Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus subarcticus. 



Range. — Interior of Arctic America from Hudson Bay to Alaska; south in 

 winter to the northwestern tier of states. 



A very pale colored Horned Owl with little or no buff or brownish in the 

 plumage, some specimens (very rare) being pure white with only a few black 

 bars on the back. Their nesting habits are the same and the eggs do not vary 

 appreciably from those of the eastern Horned Owl. 



375c. Dusky Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus saturatus. 



Range. — Pacific coast from California to Alaska. 



This is the darkest of the Horned Owls, the extreme case being nearly black 

 on the back and very dark below. Nesting the same as the Great Horned Owl. 



375d. Pacific Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus pacificus. 



Range. — California, southward and east to Arizona. 



Smaller and darker than the eastern form but not as dark as the last. Eggs 

 the same as those of the others. 



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