374 THE AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 
No. 163. 
AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 
A. O. U. No. 366. Asio wilsonianus (Less. ). 
Description.—Adult: Above finely mottled white and dusky, with appar- 
ently half-concealed ochraceous on subterminal margins of feathers; the design 
broadened on wings,—ochraceous, white, and dusky in patches; the wing-quills 
and tail distinctly barred dusky with ochraceous basally, dusky with gray ter- 
minally ; ear-tufts conspicuous, an inch or more in length, black centrally, with 
white and ochraceous edges; facial disk tawny, gray centrally, and blackish about 
eyes on inner side, the edges finely mottled black and white; tibice, tarsi, and feet 
pale tawny, immaculate; remaining under parts white, ochraceous, and dusky, in 
bold, free pattern, the upper breast distinctly and heavily streaked, the sides and 
flanks distinctly barred, the belly exhibiting a combination of the two types; lining 
of wing pale tawny, unmarked basally, save for a dusky patch on tips of coverts, 
heavily barred distally ; bill and toe-nails blackish. The folded wings exceed the 
tail, and the bill is nearly concealed by black and white bristles. Length 13.00- 
16.00 (330.2-406.4) ; wing II.25-12.00 (285.8-304.8) ; tail 5.75-6.25 (146.1-158.8) ; 
tarsus 1.50-1.80 (38.1-45.7) ; bill from nostril .63 (16.). 
Recognition Marks.—Little Hawk to Crow size; a strongly marked and un- 
mistakable, species; the “horns” taken in connection with its size are sufficient to 
identify it. 
Nest, usually a deserted nest of Crow, Magpie, Heron, etc.; sometimes in 
rock-rifts or even on the ground. Eggs, 3-6, subspherical, white (or not infre- 
quently red-spotted with nest-marks). Av. size, 1.60 x 1.29 (40.6 x 32.8). 
General Range.—Temperate North America, south to the tablelands of 
Mexico. Breeds throughout its range. 
Range in Ohio.—Noit uncommon in winter, but of somewhat irregular occur- 
rence. Rare summer resident. 
AUTHORITIES cannot agree as to the real abundance of this species 
in various eastern states. Being strictly nocturnal in its habits it is seldom ob- 
served except in winter, when it is largely deprived of its cover, and when, 
moreover, its numbers are very materially increased by a northern influx. Un- 
like the larger Barred and the smaller Owls, the Long-eared Owl does not 
resort, to any considerable extent, if at all, to hollow trees, but secretes him- 
self by day in the midst of heavy foliage. His favorite retreats are the willows 
of swamp thickets, evergreen timber and small upland groves. 
If one is so fortunate as to surprise one of these Owls during the nesting 
season, or when the foliage is reasonably dense, he may get a good view of 
a slim bird standing straight and tense, with glowing yellow eyes and erect 
ear-tufts, or perhaps with beak defiantly snapping; but in winter when there 
is nothing to be gained by the bird’s bravery, a hundred yards is a near ap- 
proach. 
Since there are no recent accounts of the nesting of the Long-eared Owl 
