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THE RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF IOWA 



Fig-. 87. The Great Horned Owl. 



Trapping Hawks or Owls is more certain to get the real rascal that is 

 devastating the roost than to shoot every Hawk or Owl that comes about 

 the yard. 



Genus Bubo Dumeril. 



30. BUBO VIRGINIANUS VIRGINIANUS (Gmelin). 375. 

 Great Horned Owl. Hoot Owl. Cat Owl. Big Horned Owl. 



Field Characters. Largest of our owls with "horns" or "ear- 

 tufts." General color dark. Eyes large and yellow. Found usually 

 in heavy timber. Nests either in an open nest like a hawk or in a 

 hollow tree. 



Description. Above, mottled with whitish, ochraceous buff, and 

 dusky. The spread tail shows many dark bars. Feathers about the 

 eyes ochraceous buff, black tipped. Ear tufts mostly black. Below, 



