LAND BIRDS. 319 



155. Acadian Owl. Cryptoglaux acadica acadica (Gmel.). (372) 



Synonyms: Saw-whet Owl, Si^arrow Owl, White-fronted Owl (young), Kirtland's 

 Owl. — Strix acadica, Gmel., 1788, Aud., and others. — Nyctale acadica, Bonap., 1838, 

 and authors generally. — Strix passerina, Penn. — Strix frontalis, Licht. — Nyctale albifrons, 



Cass. 



Plate XXVIII. 



Smallest of our owls, the wing less than six inches. This, together with 

 the absence of ear-tufts, and the numerous small white spots above and 

 brownish stripes below, readily identifies the bird. 



Distribution. — North America at large, breeding from the middle states 

 northward, and in mountainous regions of the west southward into Mexico. 



A dainty little owl, doubtless much more common than generally 

 supposed, and well distributed over the entire state. Its small size, strictly 

 nocturnal habits, and protective coloration make it easy for it to avoid 

 detection. During the day time it secretes itself amid the thick foliage 

 of trees, evergreens being preferred. At such times it is ridiculously 

 tame and may sometimes be captured alive in the hands. It is commonly 

 stated to be resident wherever found, and it is certain that in Michigan 

 our records are more numerous in winter than in summer. Nevertheless 

 a considerable movement of the birds southward in cold weather has been 

 noted and there is a decided increase in their numbers in the middle and 

 southern states during the winter season. Mr. W. E. Saunders found 24 

 dead Acadian Owls among the hundreds of migrants which perished in a 

 snow storm on the east shore of Lake Huron, the night of October 10-11, 

 1906. For a full account of this disaster see the Auk, Vol. XXIV, 1907, 

 pages 108-110. Part of the account is c^uoted in the introduction to the 

 present volume, pages 26-27. 



The nest is placed always in a hollow tree, and the eggs, in Michigan, 

 are probably laid early in April, at least before the first of May, and there 

 is no reason to suppose that more than a single brood is reared in a season. 

 The eggs vary in number from three to seven, are white and unspotted, 

 and average 1.19 by 1 inch. 



The note of this bird is said to resemble that made by filing a saw, yet 

 in our own experience we have been unable to detect the resemblance. Dr. 

 W. L. Ralph says "their call is a frequently repeated whistle, sometimes 

 uttered in a high and again in a low key, in either a slow or rapid cadence. 

 Generally it is commenced slowly and gradually becomes faster and faster 

 until it ends quite rapidly. This call which is the only one I have ever 

 heard them give, sounds not unlike the noise made during the operation of 

 filing a saw, and it is easily imitated." 



The food consists largely of mice, but it doubtless also eats squirrels, 

 chipmunks, and an occasional bird. Of 19 stomachs reported upon by Dr. 

 A. K. Fisher, 17 contained mice; 1, a bird (sparrow); and 1, an insect. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Smallest of Michigan owls; very much like Richardson's Owl, but nuidi smaller; no 

 ear-tufts or plumieorns; iris yellow; bill blackish; two or three outer primaries emarginate 

 or sinuate on inner webs. 



Adult: Upper parts olive-brown or reddish-brown, lined with white on forehead and 

 crown, spotted with white on back of neck, scapulars, and sometimes elsewhere; unclcr 

 parts white, streaked with reddish brown; tarsi and toes buffy white, without markings; 



