BARN OWL. Family Aluconidse. HORNED OWLS, 

 etc. Family Strigida3 



A. Large. LENGTH 



a. Ear-tufts conspicuous; belly barred and streaked. 



1. Ear-tufts rising directly above eyes (one of the 

 most beneficial species). 



366. LONG-EARED OWL 15 



2. "Cat-faced" Owls (destructive species). 



375-. HORNED OWLS 18-22 



b. Ear-tufts inconspicuous or lacking. 



1. Belly white, finely spotted; eyes black; 

 "monkey-face" 365. BARN OWL 16 



2. Belly buffy, dark-streaked; eyes yellow. 



367. SHORT-EARED OWL 15 



3. Belly barred, head and neck spotted; eyes 

 black 369-. SPOTTED OWLS 18 



B. Small. 



a. Ear-tufts on "corners" of head, conspicuous; large 

 eyes; prominent facial discs; tarsus feathered. 



373-. SCREECH OWLS 7-8* 



b. No ear-tufts. 



1. Ground; nocturnal and diurnal; tarsus bare, 



long and slim 378. BURROWING OWL 9 



2. Forest; diurnal; tarsus densely feathered; long 



tail 379-. PYGMY OWLS 7 



3. Giant cactus; nocturnal; tarsus scantily 

 feathered... ..381. ELF OWL 6 



