2OO Birds of Oregon and Washington 



CALIFORNIA PYGMY OWL. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION : 



Upper parts : dark brown, shading into reddish, 

 marked with small white spots. 



Under parts : white, streaked with black. 



Length, 7 inches. 

 Found in the woods. 



This little Owl is peculiar in other respects 

 besides his size. He is a day and not a night 

 bird, but, being very wary of men, keeps out of 

 sight. On that account he does not seem to be 

 very abundant, while yet he may be so. That 

 the owl is numerous in some parts of this section, 

 is well known ; for example, in Lincoln County, 

 Oregon. He is peculiar, also, in regard to his 

 call. Dr. Cooper, one of the earliest authorities 

 upon the birds of this coast, declares that " his 

 notes are subdued and clear like the sound of a 

 flute." All the other owls have unmusical 

 voices. 



The habits of this little bird are altogether 

 harmless in respect of bird or poultry. Its prin- 

 cipal food, so far as investigation has shown, con- 

 sists of insects. He belongs to this side of the 

 continent, from Colorado to the coast. 



