THE HAWK OWL 



229 



This diurnal owl is of very rare occurrence in Iowa. R. M. An- 

 derson says, "George H. Berry reports the Hawk Owl as a rare win- 

 ter visitant in Linn county. He states that he has taken one specimen 

 in Iowa, and also observed one in December, 1903, near Cedar Rap- 

 ids, which he did not secure." It is spoken of as an owl with the 

 feeding habits of a hawk and fully as capable of hunting by day. 



A peculiarity of its flight is its dropping from the perch to near the 

 level of the ground or bushes, and on approaching another perch, 

 ascending almost perpendicularly to it. 



It is spoken of as an unsuspicious bird, not at all shy, and ready to 

 defend its nest. The nesting site is usually a cavity in a tree, in which 

 no lining is placed. The eggs are three to seven in number and mea- 

 sure about 1.50 by 1.23 inches. 



Dr. Elliot Coues in his "Birds of the Northwest" says, "It feeds 

 chiefly upon field mice (Arvicolae) which swarm in the sphagnous 

 vegetation of arctic lands; also upon small birds, grasshoppers and 

 other insects." 



Fig. 91. Map showing the distribution in Iowa of the Hawk O.vL 



