THE DWARF SCREECH OWL. 



477 



No. 191. 



DWARF SCREECH OWL. 



A. O. U. No. 374 a. Otus flammeola idahoensis (Merriam). 



Description. — Adult: riumicorns short; facial disk light tawny or ochra- 

 ceous; upperparts finely mottled dark brown and ashy-gray with dark shaft- 

 stripes; a whitish or pale tawny bar on scapulars as in 0. a. uiacfarlanci; wing- 

 quills with prominent white or bufify spots on outer webs, the inner with paler 

 bars; tail narrowly and irregularly cross-barred with whitish or dull tawny; 

 underparts white, finely and sparingly venniculated with dusky and with heavy 

 blackish streaks on sides. [Presumably dichromatic, like type form, — parts 

 described above as brown or gray becoming ochraceous or bright rufous in red 

 phase.] Young birds are finely barred, dusky or deep gray and lighter, above 

 and below, finely vermiculated with same on forehead and crown. Length : 6.00- 

 6.50 ( 152.4-165.1) ; wing 4.90 (124.5). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; finely mottled plumage; feather tufts, 

 or horns, distinctive for size. 



Nesting. — Nest and eggs undescribed, presumably like those of 0. flainineola. 

 viz., iiest. in old woodpecker hole ; eggs, 3 or 4, white; av. size, I.i5x.95(29.2x24.i). 



General Range. — "Idaho and Eastern Washington." 



Range in Washington. — Unknown — probably confined to eastern boundaries. 



Authorities. — M[cgascops]. f[la!niiieola]. idaliocnsis. Bailey, Handbook of 

 the Birds of the Western L". S. 1902, p. 185. 



ALMOST nothing is known of 

 the life history of the northern form 

 of the Flammulated Screech Owl. The 

 t}-pe form, a male, was taken at 

 Ketclumi, Alturus County, Idaho, Sep- 

 tember 22. 1890: and there are records 

 for Eastern Washington in possession 

 of the Biological Survey. 



Several years ago ^Mr. F. S. Merrill 

 captured a small Owl near Spokane, 

 and obtained its photograph, submit- 

 ted herewith, in the belief that it is 

 of this race. The bird's wing changed 

 position during exposure, so that it 

 appears to have more feathers than it is 

 entitled to. 



Taken near Spokane'. Photo by F. S. Merrill. 

 SUPPOSED DWARF SCREECH OWL. 



