no 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



plumage changed to red ; but, as this was only a 

 single experiment, it cannot be considered con- 

 clusive proof that the color change was due to the 

 diet. 



CuurtL'sy o£ Am. Mus. NaL. Hist. 

 SCREECH OWL 

 In the South this bird is better known as the Shivering Owl 



States from South Carolina to Florida and 

 Texas ; it is smaller and darker, with the under 

 parts more densely or heavily penciled, in both 

 [jhases, than the type species. 



The Texas, or McCally's, Screech Owl ( Oliis 

 nsio iiiccalU) is limited to the lower Rio Grande 

 valley, both in Texas and in Mexico ; it is larger 

 than the Florida Screech Owl but smaller than 

 the common Screech Owl and paler than either ; 

 in the gray phase it is much more coarsely 

 mottled above than in any other form of the 

 species. 



The California, or Bendire's, Screech Owl 

 ( Oliis asio bcndirci) is similar to the gray 

 phase of the eastern Screech Owl, but the other 

 parts are more tinged with grayish and the 

 darker pencilings are finer and more generally 

 distributed, nearly, if not quite, obliterating the 

 immaculate white throat and abdominal area 

 which are always present in the type species. 

 There is no rufous phase in this form. Its dis- 

 tribution is lini'tcd to southwestern Oregon and 

 California. 



Another interestmg peculiarity of the bird is 

 that apparently the male and female mate for 

 life, or at least retain that relationship for sev- 

 eral years. This is one of the comparatively few- 

 instances of monogamy in the bird world. 

 Polygamy is more common, but with the great 

 majority'of birds the association of the male and 

 the female is purely a temporary affair, and m 

 many instances the male deserts the female be- 

 fore' the young are fully able to shift for them- 

 selves. A pair of Screech Owls may, however, 

 continue their relationship until it is broken by 

 the death of one or the other ; and as the species 

 is not migratory, it may even happen that the 

 same pair will continue to use the same nest, in 

 winter as well as summer, until they are driven 

 away, in which event they are quite likely to 

 resume housekeeping in the same neighborhood. 



It remains to be said that the almost invariable 

 rule of extreme cleanliness in the care of their 

 nests or nesting places, characteristic of most 

 American wild birds, is not generally observed 

 by these Owls, whose habitations are often 

 exceedingly filthy. George Gladden. 



Scattered over North America are eight 

 variants of the Screech Owl. The Florida 

 Screech Owl {Otus asio floridanits) occurs in 

 the coast districts of the South Atlantic and Gulf 



Photo by H. K- Jnh Courtesy of Outing Pub. Co. 



YOUNG SCREECH OWL 



In position of defense 



