374 THE AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 



No. 163. 



AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 



A. O. U. Xo. 366. Asio wilsonianus (Less.)- 



Description. Adult : Above finely mottled white and dusky, with appar- 

 ently half-concealed ochraceous on subterminal margins of feathers; the design 

 broadened on wings, ochraceous, white, and dusky in patches ; the wing-quills 

 and tail distinctly barred, dusky with ochraceous basally, dusky with gray ter- 

 minally ; ear-tufts conspicuous, an inch or more in length, black centrally, with 

 white and ochraceous edges ; facial disk tawny, gray centrally, and blackish about 

 eyes on inner side, the edges finely mottled black and white ; tibise, tarsi, and feet 

 pale tawny, immaculate ; remaining under parts white, ochraceous, and dusky, in 

 bold, free pattern, the upper breast distinctly and heavily streaked, the sides and 

 flanks distinctly barred, the belly exhibiting a combination of the two types ; lining 

 of wing pale tawny, unmarked basally, save for a dusky patch on tips of coverts, 

 heavily barred distally ; bill and toe-nails blackish. The folded wings exceed the 

 tail, and the bill is nearly concealed by black and white bristles. Length 13.00- 

 16.00 (330.2-406.4) ; wing 11.25-12.00 (285.8-304.8) ; tail 5.75-6.25 (146.1-158.8) ; 

 tarsus 1.50-1.80 (38.1-45.7) ; bill from nostril .63 (16.). 



Recognition Marks. Little Hawk to Crow size ; a strongly marked and un- 

 mistakable species ; the "horns" taken in connection with its size are sufficient~to 

 identify it. 



Nest, usually a deserted nest of Crow, Magpie, Heron, etc. ; sometimes in 

 rock-rifts or even on the ground. Eggs, 3-6, subspherical, white (or not infre- 

 quently red-spotted with nest-marks). Av. size, 1.60 x 1.29 (40.6 x 32.8). 



General Range. Temperate North America, south to the tablelands of 

 Mexico. Breeds throughout its range. 



Range in Ohio. Not uncommon in winter, but of somewhat irregular occur- 

 rence. Rare summer resident. 



AUTHORITIES cannot agree as to the real abundance of this species 

 in various eastern states. Being strictly nocturnal in its habits it is seldom ob- 

 served except in winter, when it is largely deprived of its cover, and when, 

 moreover, its numbers are very materially increased by a northern influx. Un- 

 like the larger Barred and the smaller Owls, the Long-eared Owl does not 

 resort, to any considerable extent, if at all, to hollow trees, but secretes him- 

 self by day in the midst of heavy foliage. His favorite retreats are the willows 

 of swamp thickets, evergreen timber and small upland groves. 



If one is so fortunate as to surprise one of these Owls during the nesting 

 season, or when the foliage is reasonably dense, he may get a good view of 

 a slim bird standing straight and tense, with glowing yellow eyes and erect 

 ear-tufts, or perhaps with beak defiantly snapping; but in winter when there 

 is nothing to be gained by the bird's bravery, a hundred yards is a near ap- 

 proach. 



Since there are no recent accounts of the nesting of the Long-eared Owl 



