208 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



STRIX OCCIDENTALS CAURINA (Merriam) 

 NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL 



HABITS 



Authorities differ somewhat as to the validity of this dark, humid 

 coast race of the spotted owl. The 1931 Check-List refers to it the 

 spotted owls that breed along the Northwest coast region, from south- 

 ern British Columbia to Marin County, Calif. Dr. H. C. Oberholser 

 (1915) thinks that it is not separable from typical occidentalis from 

 southern California. He says: 



Specimens from California prove beyond reasonable doubt that Strix occidentalis 

 caurina is a synonym of Strix occidentalis occidentalis, for all its peculiarities are 

 to be found among these California birds. Many of the specimens of Strix occi- 

 dentalis lucida from Arizona and New Mexico are fully as dark above as Strix 

 occidentalis caurina, and some are even darker; several are as dark below, with 

 nearly the same amount of ochraceous suffusion posteriorly, and with practically 

 an equal amount of mottling on the legs and feet. In the reduction of light mark- 

 ings on the upper surface the type of Strix occidentalis caurina may be closely 

 matched in all respects by some of the California birds, as well as by the type of 

 Strix occidentalis occidentalis. Moreover, the type of Strix occidentalis occidentalis 

 is an old, formerly mounted specimen, and is considerably faded and apparently 

 otherwise discolored. Another southern California example is actually identical 

 with the type of Strix occidentalis caurina, except for being darker. There is thus 

 no distinctive character left for the recognition of Strix occidentalis caurina as a 

 subspecies. 



Although Dr. Oberholser examined the type of caurina, it was the 

 only specimen he had from the Northwest coast region; moreover, it 

 was a summer bird and probably was somewhat worn and faded. 

 The material that I have examined, 10 birds from California and 4 

 from the Northwest coast, shows that the characters given for caurina 

 are constant and fairly well marked. Dr. C. Hart Merriam (1898), 

 in naming this race, gave it the following characters: 



Similar to S. occidentale but everywhere darker. In general the white spots 

 and markings are smaller; the dark areas larger and darker. This is especially 

 noticeable on the head and back where the white spotting is reduced to a mini- 

 mum. The dark markings on the sides of the breast, flanks and feet are very much 

 darker and more extensive than in occidentale. But perhaps the most striking 

 difference is on the wings. The primaries are not only very much darker but the 

 broad whitish tips have disappeared and are represented by an indistinct pale 

 band mixed with a little whitish on the outer side of the vane and on some of the 

 feathers a faint whitish terminal edging. The three or four pale bars nearest the 

 tips of the feathers are also obsolescent. 



On May 10, 1911, a dark, rainy day, while collecting birds near 

 Kirkland, Wash., across the lake from Seattle, I was fortunate enough 

 to secure a fine specimen of this rare owl. Squeaking to call up any 

 small birds that might be within hearing, I was standing in a little 

 open space in a dense forest of giant firs, in the midst of which stood 

 a lone dead fir. After a few extra loud squeaks, I was surprised to 



