208 THE RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF IOWA 



A. O. U. Check-List, p. 172, 1910. 



Chapman, F. M., Birds of Eastern North America, p. 313, 1912. 

 Bunker, C. D., The Birds of Kansas, p. 148, 1913. 



Ridgway, R., Birds of North and Middle America, Part VI, Bulletin 50, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus., p. 627, 1914. 



Fig. 85. Screech Owls 



Genus Otus Pennant. 



29. OTUSASIOASIO(Unii3ieus). 373. 

 Screech Owl. Little Hoot Owl. Red Owl. Gray Owl. 



Field Characters. The smallest of our Iowa owls with ear tufts. 

 Either red or gray in plumage. Common about farmyards and even 

 in towns. It utters a tremulous, gurgling cry. 



Description. Above, reddish or grayish with black streaks. Be- 

 low, white with reddish barrings in the red phase, and streaked and 

 barred with black and some rufous in the gray phase. Eyes yellow. 

 Ear tufts about an inch long. Young birds are barred with grayish 

 or reddish and white. 



