298 ANIMAL LIFE IX THE YOSEMITE 



Barn Owl. Tyto pratincola (Bonaparte) 



Field characters. — Medium size for an owl (length 15 or more inches, spread of 

 wings about 45 inches) ; no ear tufts (fig. 39g) ; eyes relatively small, dark-colored (not 

 yellow). General color of plumage above light golden brown; under surface white or 

 buffy white; face white, heart-shaped, bordered by a rim of brownish feathers. Voice: 



A single prolonged rasping screech, sk.ich or IcscJi ; also a rapid clicking noise, cli<;k, 



click, click, etc. 



Occurrence. — Common resident wherever appropriate daytime shelter is afforded in 

 the lowlands (Lower Sonoran Zone chiefly). Observed by us only at Snclling and west 

 of Pleasant Valley. 



The Barn Owl, as its name might indicate, has become so well adapted 

 to the presence of man that when unmolested it takes up its quarters jnr\ 

 a barn, attic, or windmill tower, sleeping quietly by day and issuing forth 

 at dusk to hunt in the neighboring fields for mice and gophers. Its use- 

 fulness in this connection is well recognized and can be readily corroborated 

 through an examination of the large collection of pellets found under any 

 long-occupied roost. 



The Barn Owl usually begins its nightly forays at late dusk and can 

 be seen at that time, sweeping out over the fields in search of prey. One 

 of these birds was seen abroad on a small plateau west of Pleasant Valley 

 on the cloudy and rainy morning of February 26, 1916. The bird was on 

 the ground near a squirrel hole in a pasture, and probably was on the 

 watch for prey. This owl, if aroused during the daytime, shows itself 

 able to see well, even in strong sunlight, and will fly quickly and unhesi- 

 tatingly to another retreat. Its flight, like that of owls in general, is 

 exceedingly quiet, evidently due to the very soft quality of its plumage. 



The notes of the Barn Owl are of two kinds: One is a single, loud, 

 prolonged, rasping sksch, uttered only at long intervals ; the other, a series 

 of notes click,^ click, click, click, click, resembling in character the notes 

 of a katydid, but delivered with diminishing emphasis and shortening 

 intervals toward the end of the series. From the changing direction of 

 the sounds, it is evident that the notes are uttered in flight as one bird 

 closely follows another. Sometimes a second bird will start his (or her) 

 series of clicks before the first has finished. 



The distinctive outline of the Barn Owl's face has given rise in many 

 places to the name Monkey-faced Owl, and the peculiar color of plumage 

 to the name Golden Owl. 



