Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



499 



Genus SURNIA Dum^iil. 



183. Surnia ulula caparoch (Mull.). 



American Hawk Owl. 



Distr.: Arctic North America; south in winter to northern bor- 

 der of United States and casually as far as Illinois and New England; 

 breeds north of United States. 



Adult: No ear tufts; upper plumage, dark brown (brownish 

 black on the head), finely spotted with white on the head, and blotched 

 and barred with white on the back; primaries with white spots on both 



webs; tail, unevenly barred with whitish; face, grayish white, bor- 

 dered by a streak of black behind the ear; a dusky patch on chin and 

 middle throat, rest of under parts, barred with white and dark brown ; 

 tail, rounded, the outer feathers being decidedly shorter than the 

 middle feathers; eyes and bill, yellow. 



Length, about 15; wing, about 9; tail, about 7. 



A very rare winter visitant in both Illinois and Wisconsin. 



Robert Kennicott included it in his list of the birds of Cook County, 



