THE DWARF SCREECH OWL. 
No. 191. 
DWARF SCREECH OWL. 
A. O. U. No. 374a. Otus flammeola idahoensis (Merriam). 
Description.—Adu/t: Plumicorns 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 O. a. macfarlanei; wing- 
quills with prominent white or buffy 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 vermiculated 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 O. fammeola, 
viz., nest, in old woodpecker hole ; eggs, 3 or 4, white; av. size, 1.15 x.95(29.2x24.1). 
General Range.— ‘Idaho and Eastern Washington.” 
Range in Washington.—Unknown—probably confined to eastern boundaries. 
Authorities.—M | egascops]. f[lammeola]. idahoensis, Bailey, Handbook of 
the Birds of the Western U. S. 1902, p. 185. 
ALMOST nothing is known of 
the life history of the northern form 
of the Flammulated Screech Owl. The 
type form, a male, was taken at 
Ketchum, 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 
Taken near Spokane. Photo by F. S. Mervill. 
entitled to. SUPPOSED DWARF SCREECH OWL. 
