27 inches. Found only in the wildest, densest 

 timbered part of the state, chiefly far north, and 

 nowhere very common. Once in a long time a 

 winter occurs when so manj- of these great owls 

 make their appearance that it indicates a con- 

 siderable migratory movement from regions fur- 

 ther north. 



*15. SAW-WHET OWL (Cryptoglaux acad- 

 ica acadica). The smallest of our owls, only 8 

 inches in length. No ear tufts. The top of the 

 head finely streaked, the back spotted, with 

 white. It is resident throughout the state, but 

 is not very frequently seen. Its note is described 

 as rasping, like the sound made in filing a saw. 

 It feeds chiefly upon mice and is strictly noc- 

 turnal in its activities. 



*16. SCREECH OWL (Otus asio asio). A 

 little owl between 9 and 10 inches long, provided 

 with ear tufts. It occurs in two color phases — 

 red and gray — without reference to age or sex. 

 It is quite common and may often be detected 

 peering out of a hole in a tree whicli it has 

 chosen as its winter home. Its mournful quaver- 

 chosen as its winter home. 

 Its mournful quaver- 

 ing notes are a familiar 

 evening song aljout the 

 country home. Mice con- 

 stitute its chief food in 

 winter with the adidtion, 

 in the summer time, of 

 large numbers of specially 

 injurious insects, which it 

 (rften catches on moon- 

 li.Ljht nights liy sallying 

 ..ut from tree tops after 

 tlie manner of many diur- 

 SCREECII OWL „al birds. It deserves the 



Photograph from hfc ^^^^^^ careful protection. 



*17. GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virgin- 

 ianus virginianus). This great Owl, which has 

 been termed the "tiger among birds" is fairly 

 common in all the heavy wild timber of the 

 state, and in the winter season no doubt destroys 

 a great many RufTed Grouse, especially if rab- 

 bits are scarce. Its fondness for the tender flesh 

 of the latter destructive animal seems to be the 

 chief redeeming feature in its character, consid- 

 ered from an economic standpoint. Its yellow- 

 eyes, big tufted head, and great size serve to dis- 

 tinguish it. 



A sub-species, the Arctic Great Horned Owl, 

 with white and gray largely replacing the buff 

 and black of virginianus, occurs in the northern 

 part of the state, probably only a winter visitant. 



*18. HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates 

 villosus villosus). Common throughout the state, 

 showing a preference for the denser woods and 

 tamarack and spruce swamps. The birds in the 

 extreme northern part of the state are somewhat 

 larger than those found further south and belong 

 to the sub-species, Dryobates villosus leucomelas, 

 NORTHERN HAIRY WOODPECKER, 



*19. DOWNY WOODPECKER (Dryobates 

 pubescens tnedianus). Very common. With the 

 exception of the Nuthatch this is, perhaps, the 

 most frequently seen of all birds in mid-winter. 

 It is in appearance a perfect diminutive of the 

 last species, except that the white outer tail feath- 

 ers are barred with black instead of being pure 

 white as in the Hairy. 



These two Woodpeck- 

 ers perform a service of 

 incalculable value to man 

 by the untiring warfare 

 they wage upon the in- 

 sects destructive to shrub 

 and tree. All winter long 

 they may be seen beside 

 the walk, upon the lawn, 

 in the more retired groves 

 of the suburbs or in the 

 woodland wild, industri- 

 ously at work on the in- 

 fected trees ; and their 

 presence is suflicient evi- 

 dence of the existence of DOWNY WOOHPECKERS 

 the insects or their eggs. Photograph from hfc. Roberts 



They waste no time or strength digging holes in 

 sound trees. The name "Sapsucker" is sometimes 

 applied by the uninformed to these birds, but it is 

 a misnomer and not deserved. They are neither 

 sap ncr bark eaters. The real culprit is the Yel- 

 low-bellied Woodpecker or Sapsucker (Sphyrap- 

 icus varius varius), a bird that in the spring time 

 drills large holes in rows around the trunks of 

 trees and saplings. These punctures penetrate 

 the inner layer of bark and allow the sap to run 

 out often in such quantity that the whole lower 

 trunk of the tree is saturated with the liquid. 

 The sap thus released forms a considerable part 

 of the diet of this Woodpecker, and the miscre- 

 ants may be seen going from tree to tree, cling- 

 ing to the bole and drinking the liquid that col- 

 lects in the punctures. The Sapsucker is not a 

 winter bird in Minnesota, but is all too common 

 at other seasons of the year. 



20. ARCTIC or BLACK-BACKED THREE- 

 TOED WOODPECKER (Picoides arcticus). ,\ 

 common bird in the evergreen forests of the 

 state. They e.xtend their range somewhat south- 

 ward in the winter time and very rarely an in- 

 dividual may be found as far south as Hennepin 

 county. This and the next species have. 



