BIRDS OF INDIANA. 811 



85. GENUS MEGASCOPS KAUP. 



*151. (373.) Megascops asio (LINN.). 



Screech Owl. 



Screech Owl. 



"Toes more or less distinctly feathered or bristled on upper side; 

 ear tufts conspicuous; plumage presenting two totally distinct phases, 

 having no relation- to sex, age or season, one grayish, the other bright 

 rufous; a more or less conspicuous bright colored stripe runs along 

 each side of the back and a blackish line along the shafts of the 

 feathers, sometimes throwing out transverse bars. 



"Length, 6.50-10.00; wing, 5.60-7.10; tail, 3.00-3.70." (Fisher). 



RANGE. Eastern North America, from Texas and Georgia to Lake 

 Superior and New Brunswick, west to South Dakota and Kansas. 

 Generally resident throughout its range. 



Nest, in hollow trees or in old buildings. Eggs, 4-7; white; 1.42 by 

 1.19. 



Resident; abundant; breeds. Everywhere the little Screech Owl is 

 a well-known bird. Sometimes it is seen in gray plumage, but at this 

 time in Indiana it is more often seen in the red phase. People for- 

 merly thought each color represented a different bird and that we had 



