BIRDS OF PREY 



373. SCREECH OWL. Otus asio asio. 



Range. North America, east of the plains 

 and from the southern British Provinces to 

 Florida. 



This well known 

 species, which is of- 

 ten called "Little 

 Horned Owl" be- 

 cause of its ear tufts f j 

 is found either in the I 

 type form of some of 1|V 

 its varieties in all 

 parts of the United 

 States. They have 

 two color phases, the 

 plumage being either Whitp 



a yellowish brown or 



gray, and black and white; these color phases 

 are not dependent upon sex or locality, as often 

 young or both phases are found in the same 

 riest; the gray phase is the most abundant. 

 They nest anywhere in hollow trees, being 

 found very frequently in decayed stubs of apple trees. They also often nest in 

 barns or other old buildings which are not frequented too freely. Their food 

 consists chiefly of mice and meadow moles, with occasionally small birds. 

 During April or May they lay their white eggs, the full complement of which 

 is from five to eight. Size 1.35 x 1.20. The nesting habits of all the sub-species, 

 as far as we can learn, are exactly like those of the eastern Screech Owl; the 

 eggs cannot be distinguished, and in most cases, even the birds cannot be dis- 

 tinguished. 



Screech Owl 



373a. FLORIDA SCREECH OWL. Otus asio ftoridanus. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 



Slightly smaller and darker than asin. The eggs average slightly smaller. 

 Size 1.30x1.15. 



373b. TEXAS SCREECH OWL. Otus asio mccalli. 



Range. Texas, and southward into Mexico. Very similar to floridanus. 



373c. CALIFORNIA SCREECH OWL. Otus asio bendirei. 

 Range. Coast of California and Oregon. Size of, but darker than asio. 



373d. KENNICOTT'S SCREECH OWL. Otus asio kennicotti. 



Range. Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska. This is the darkest of the 

 Screech Owls and averages a trifle larger than the eastern form. 



373e. ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCREECH OWL. Otus asio maxwellia. 



Range. Foothills of the Rockies, from Colorado to Montana. This is the 

 palest form of the Screech Owl, Of the same size as the last. 



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