130 



Distinctions. The strongly and well outlined heart-shaped facial disk, soft yellow 

 coloration with a suggestion of pink, and the tarsi almost bare of feathers are distinctive. 



Nesting. In towers, steeples, or holes in barns, banks, or trees. 



Distribution. From the gulf of Mexico to the middle Atlantic states across the con- 

 tinent. It occurs in Canada only as a straggler along the southern border. 



This is the American representative of the ruin-haunting European 

 owl so familiar in song and story. It is a wonderfully efficient mouser 

 and a most valuable bird, but is rare in Canada. 



FAMILY STEIGID^J. HORNED OR EARED OWLS. 



The family is known as "Horned" from the tufts of feathers pro- 

 jecting from the forehead in some of the species, though not in all. The 

 feet are feathered to the ends of the toes (Figure 32, p. 23). The family 

 includes all the Canadian owls except the Barn Owl previously described. 



366. American Long-eared Owl. FR. LE HIBOU A OREILLES LONGUES. Asio 

 wilsonianus. L, 14-80. A medium sized owl rather similar in coloration to the Great 

 Horned Owl (p. 133), but much smaller and of more slender build. 



Distinctions. Although the colouring is suggestive of the Great Horned Owl, the differ- 

 ence in size serves to distinguish the two. From the Short-eared Owl, which is of abont 

 equal size, it may be distinguished by the prominent horns or ear tufts which spring close 

 together from the forehead, by the general lack of stripes in its coloration, and by the 

 conspicuous amount of black and white suffused over the body colour. 



Field Marks. The prominent horns standing nearly straight up from the middle of the 

 forehead and the rusty brown facial disk differentiate this species from the next, the only 

 species for which it might be mistaken. 



Nesting. In trees, usually in deserted crows' nests or hawks' nests 20 to 40 feet from 

 the ground. 



Distribution. Throughout temperate North America, north to about the limit of 

 cultivation. 



Evergreen or alder thickets on the edges of marshes or ash swamps are 

 the preferred habitat of the species. During migration it is sometimes 

 found in companies, resting by day in the dark recesses of wet woods. 



Economic Status. Of 92 stomachs examined, 1 contained a game 

 bird (Quail); 15, other birds; 84, mice; 5, other mammals; and 1, insects. 

 From this record it is evident that the species is not seriously destructive. 

 Its mousing proclivities are sufficient to give it a claim to protection and 

 its small size and nocturnal habits prevent its interference with young 

 poultry. 



367. American Short-eared Owl. MARSH OWL. FR. LE HIBOU A OREILLES 

 COURTES. Asio flammeus. L, 15-50. A medium sized owl with short, hardly visible ear- 

 tufts. General colour ochraceous with considerable white lining on face, with sharply 

 defined stripes of brown over all, narrower below and broader and more diffused above. 



Distinctions. The general light buff colour and the stripes of this bird are distinctive. 

 The horns may be inconspicuous; when visible they rise, as do those of the last species, 

 from between the eyes and stand upright. The lack of any black and white pattern in 

 the coloration serves to distinguish this species from the Long-eared. 



Field Marks. The buff colour is the best field mark. 



Distribution. Nearly cosmopolitan. Occurs everywhere in Canada, breeding locally 

 wherever found. 



This bird is a true marsh owl and is slightly more diurnal in its habits 

 than many of its relatives. It is often seen in the dusk of the evening 

 beating over the marshes in strong and hawk-like flight. As it lives in the 



