TYPICAL OWLS: Family Strigidae [ 349 ] 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Hudsonian and Canadian Zone from tree limit 

 in Alaska and Mackenzie south to central California, Montana, Idaho, and Ontario, 

 south in winter to northern United States. In Oregon: Rare permanent resident. 



TOWNSEND (1839) listed the Great Gray Owl for Oregon. Newberry 

 (1857) found it in the Cascade Mountains, Deschutes Basin, and along 

 the Columbia River. Shelton (1917) reported finding the remains of one 

 at a hunter's cabin near Diamond Peak, Johnson (1880) included it in 

 his list of birds from various points in the Willamette Valley, and there 

 is a record of one killed near Milwaukie by Guy Stryker (Jewett and 

 Gabrielson 1919). There are a number of mounted specimens in Oregon, 

 all without adequate data but reported killed close to the area where 

 the birds are now located. Such specimens have been seen at Medford, 

 Bear Valley (Grant County), Pendleton, and Eugene. In addition to 

 these, there are five specimens in the Jewett collection, from Sherwood 

 (December n, 1914), Baker (November 10, 1915), Bear Valley (Grant 

 County, October 18, 192.2.)? Marr Flat (Wallowa County, September 13, 

 1930), and Hardman (Morrow County, August 14, 1932.). Other than 

 these records little is known about the Great Gray Owl as an Oregon 

 bird. It is shot by every hunter who comes within range, a circumstance 

 that is true of all other large owls and that undoubtedly contributes 

 materially to their scarcity. 



Long-eared Owl: 



Asio wilsonianus (Lesson) 



DESCRIPTION. "Ear tufts dark brown, conspicuous; face mainly yellowish brown; 

 under parts whitish and yellowish, with dark brown shaft streaks and horizontal 

 bars on belly; flanks yellowish brown, unspotted; upper parts mottled gray, tawny, 

 and blackish; wings and tail barred. Length: 13-16, wing n.5o-iz.oo, tail 6.00- 

 6.2.0, bill .65." (Bailey) Nest: Usually an old crow's or magpie's or hawk's nest, 

 lined with grass, leaves, etc. Eggs: 3 to 6, white. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from British Columbia, Mackenzie, Ontario, Quebec, 

 and Newfoundland south to southern California, Texas, Arkansas, and Virginia. 

 Winters from southern Canada to central Mexico. In Oregon: Common summer 

 resident of eastern Oregon, less common in winter. Winters sparingly in western 

 Oregon and possibly breeds occasionally. 



To KNOW the Long-eared Owl and its wonderful variety of hisses, cat- 

 calls, and clatterings, one must go to the willow-bordered streams of 

 eastern Oregon. Since Townsend (1839) listed it as an Oregon bird, 

 many observers have reported it from that part of the State, including 

 Bendire (1877), who took a number of sets of eggs in the Harney Valley. 

 It makes its home in the abandoned nests of crows, magpies, or hawks, 

 which it repairs, sometimes rather sketchily, before depositing its set of 

 pure white eggs. The breeding season falls in late April and early May. 

 April 4 and May 15 are the extreme dates published by others or noted 



