314 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



154. Richardson's Owl. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni (Bonap.). (371) 



Synonyms: Arctic Saw-whet Owl, Sparrow Owl. — Nyctale richardsoni, Bonap., 1838. 

 — Strix tengmalmi. Rich. & Swains., 1831. — Nyctale tengmalmi var. richardsoni, Ridgw., 

 1872, and rnost subsequent writers. 



Plate XXVII. 



About the same weight as the Screech Owl, but with sHghtly longer wings 

 and decidedly longer tail. Besides lacking the ear-tufts, it is easily recog- 

 nized by its chocolate-brown color above, spotted with white, and the 

 white under parts striped lengthwise with brown. 



Distribution. — -Arctic America, south in winter into the northern United 

 States. Breeds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Manitoba northward. 



This is another decidedly rare owl in Michigan, and like the preceding 

 is found only in winter, and then only at long intervals. Owing to its small 

 size it probably escapes observation and capture more often than does the 

 Great Gray Owl, so that the lack of records must not be taken to indicate 

 extreme rarity. We have a specimen in the Agricultural College collection, 

 doubtless from northern Michigan, but without other data. Mr. W. 

 P. Melville, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., writes that there are two male 

 specimens of Richardson's Owl in the high school museum at that place, 

 taken in the immediate vicinity, by Mr. Mark Cady, one on February 22, 

 1900, and the other January 28, 1902. Mr. A. B. Covert records two 

 females taken at Ann Arbor in December, 1877, one on the second and the 

 other on the thirteenth of the month. He also states that a male was killed 

 in a barn at Cadillac, Michigan, November 28, 1881, and that ''Mr. Warren 

 of Duluth, gets all he wants there." 



According to Bendire it is "Possibly a very rare resident from latitude 

 46 degrees northward, becoming more abundant as higher latitudes are 

 reached. It appears to be very common about Great Slave Lake, seems not 

 to see well at all in daylight, and may often be caught in the hand. It 

 probably nests always in holes in trees; possibly, as a rare exception, in 

 deserted open nests of other birds." The eggs are two to seven, white and 

 unspotted, and average 1.35 by 1.14 inches. 



Napoleon A. Comeau states that near Godbout, Quebec, it "has a liquid 

 note like dripping water." 



Little is known of its food, but it appears to subsist mainly on mice and 

 small birds. In Michigan it is so rare that of course it has no economic 

 importance. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Small; no ear-tufts or plumicorns; iris yellow; bill white; first three primaries emarginate 

 or sinuate on inner webs near tip; feet heavily feathered to the very claws. 



Adult: Upper parts chocolate-brown, with more or less numerous white spots; under 

 parts white, with numerous broad streaks of brown which extend even to the under tail- 

 coverts; wing and tail feathers with numerous paired white spots, those on the tail tending 

 to form two or tliree white cross-bars; tarsi and feet buffy, spotted with brown. Sexes 

 alike, but female largest. 



Length 9 to 12 inches; wing 6.60 to 7.40; tail 4.10 to 4.70. 



