ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS 205 



New Jersey. Known chiefly as a rare transient to the larger 

 open marshes; casual or unknown elsewhere. It has recently been 

 found nesting on the Newark Bay Marshes by Mr. Chas. A. Urner, 

 who found young birds in 1921 and the nest in 1922. 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. Rare transient and winter resident, 

 October 27, 1909 (Griscom) to April 7, 1918 (J. M. Johnson). 



BARRED OWL (Strix varia) Fig. 17 



Of all the larger birds of prey the Barred Owl is unques- 

 tionably our commonest species, and forms a well-known 

 partnership with the Red-shouldered Hawk in the alluvial 

 woodlands of our area. In the coastal plain, or the wilder 

 country inhabited by the Great Horned Owl, it is rare or 

 absent. Its ability to survive in comparatively settled 

 country is astonishing, when one considers its size and its 

 constant hooting, which will often carry a mile or more. Its 

 wariness is so great that a pair can inhabit a patch of wood- 

 land for years without even being seen. Occasionally a tame 

 bird will be found roosting in some conifer during the winter 

 months, and the student can then determine what a Barred 

 Owl really looks like. He will be impressed with the large, 

 liquid, blue-black eyes, which have a much milder expression 

 than the fierce yellow ones of our other species. The hooting 

 may be described as baritone in quality, and the whoos or 

 whaas are usually in couplets. It can be perfectly imitated 

 by the human voice except in power, and the Owl is likely to 

 talk back. Economically it is most useful, and the only blot 

 on its escutcheon is its cannibalism, all the smaller Owls 

 forming an acceptable addition to its larder. 



Long Island. Rare and local resident. 

 ORIENT. Very rare winter visitant. 

 MASTIC. No record. 



New York State. Rare or extirpated near New York City. 

 Formerly common, and probably still surviving on Staten Island 

 and in northern Westchester County. 



CENTRAL PARK. No records under modern conditions. 



