296 KEY TO OWLS 



Key to Owls. 

 1. Small. 



Ear-tufts conspicuous ; upper parts reddish brown or 

 grayish ; under parts whitish, streaked with black and 

 washed with reddish brown or grayish. Nests near 

 houses. Tremulous wailing whistle. 



p. 287. SCREECH OWL. 

 1'. Large. 



2. Without ear-tufts. 

 3. Plumage mainly white. 



Lightly barred with brownish. Winter visitant. 



p 294. SNOWY OWL. 



3'. Plumage not mainly white. 



4. Face and under parts white or buffy, with or without 

 small black spots ; upper parts yellowish brown. 

 Southern p. 293. BARN OWL. 



4'. Face and under parts dull grayish brown ; barred 

 across the breast and streaked lengthwise of the 

 belly ; upper parts grayish brown. 



p. 291. BARRED OWL. 



2'. With ear-tufts. 



5. Size very large (length about 2 feet); breast with 

 cross-bars. Found in deep forests. 



p. 292. GREAT HORNED OWL. 



5'. Size medium (length about 15 inches). Breast with- 

 out cross-bars. 



6. Under parts buffy, streaked with brown. Ear-tufts 

 inconspicuous. Frequents grassy marshes. 



p. 290. SHORT-EARED OWL. 



