642 



SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES — STRIGES. 



caparoch Miill. 1776, comes next iu order for the latter. See Auk, Oct. 1884, p. 362. Ataother 

 name for our bird is Strix hudsonia Gm. 1788, obviously based on Edwards, as above; this is 

 the origin of Surnia ulula var. hitdsonica Coues, Key, orig. ed. 1872, p. 205. Figs. 438, 439.) 

 American Hawk Owl. Canadian or Hudsonian Owl. Day Owl. Caparoch. Bill 

 and eyes yellow ; claws brownish-black. 

 Upper parts bistre-brown, darkest and 

 almost blackish on head, where profusely 

 spotted with small round w^hite marks, 

 to which succeeds a nuchal interval less 

 spotted or free from spots, then an area 

 of larger and lengthened spots ; scapu- 

 lars profusely spotted with white in 

 large pattern, forming a scapular bar as 

 in Megascops ; back and wing-coverts 

 more or less spotted Avith white also ; 

 primaries and secondaries with white 

 spots in pairs on opposite edges of the 

 feathers. Tail broken-barred with white 

 or pale gray, usually narrowly and dis- 

 tinctly, on one or both webs, and tipped 

 with the same ; but there is great indi- 

 vidual variation in this respect, as may 

 also be said of the amount and charac- 

 ter of the spotting of the whole upper 

 parts. Under parts from breast back- 

 ward, including crissuin, closely and 

 regularly cross-barred with rich reddish- 

 brown, or even reddish-black, upon a 

 white ground, the alternating bars of 

 color usually of about equal widths — if anything, the white the broadest. 



Fig 439 — Hawk Owl, reduced (Sheppard del. Nichols sc ) 



The lining of the 



wings shares the same character, but is more spotty ; the paws are mottled with brown and 

 whitish, in different pattern. On the breast the regular barring gives way, the tendency being 

 to form a dark pectoral band on a white or spotted ground, but this disposition is seldom per- 

 fected. Facial disc mostly whitish, bounded by a conspicuous blackish crescent behind ear. 

 When the dark nuchal collar is perfected, a second bar curves down behind the first on side 

 of neck, separated by a whitish interval ; edges of eyelids, many of the loral bristles, a line 

 just in front of eye, and a chin-spot, are black or dusky ; the lower part of disc below ears 

 has also dusky streaks. Exposed part of bill bright yellow, but most of that hidden by bris- 

 tles is of a dark livid color. However variable in detail, the markings of this species are 

 unmistakable; those about the head are better defined than in most Owls, and quite peculiar. 

 Length 15.00 or more; extent 33.00 ; wing about 9.00 ; tail about 7.00 ; tarsus, or middle toe 

 without claw, 1.00 or less; culmen without cere 0.75. A handsome and spirited Owl, abun- 

 dant in northern portions of N. Am., S. into northern U. S. in winter, frequently and regularly ; 

 is possibly resident in Maine and in the mountains of Montana and Idaho ; also accredited to 

 Great Britain, on the strength of the dark coloration of some British specimens. Like the 

 Snowy Owl, it endures the rigors of Arctic winters. Nest usually in trees, either in a natural 

 hollow or among the thick branches of a conifer, sometimes on rocks or stumps, of sticks, 

 mosses, grasses, and feathers; eggs 3-7, April, May, about 1.55 X L25, white. The food 

 of this bird is chiefly field-mice, lemmings, and other small rodents, hawked for in broad day- 

 light, this owl being the least nocturnal of its tribe. 



