16 
148. DUCK HAWK. Falco peregrinus anatum. 
Rather rare residents of the seacoast and islands. Occasional 
inland in winter. Preys principally on waterfowl. A powerful 
falcon, swift of flight and bold. 
149. PIGEON FALCON. PIGEON HAWK. Faleo 
columbarius. 
Rather common winter residents of the valleys and foothills. 
Their food is principally small birds. 
150. RICHARDSON FALCON. Falco richardsoni. 
Apparently about as common about San Diego as the preceding 
species. Habits, food and season much the same. 
151. SPARROW HAWK. Falco sparverius. 
Common residents throughout the county. This very small 
falcon feeds on mice, grasshoppers, beetles, etc. and is beneficial. 
152. OSPREY. Pandion haliztus canadensis. 
Rare residents of the seacoast. More common in the Santa 
Barbara Islands. Their food is fish. 
Family ALUCONIDA. Barn Owls. 
A sm all family of rather large owls differing in technical char- 
acters from the Strigide. Habits, etc. similar. Nocturnal. 
1538. AMERICAN BARN OWL. Aluco pratincola. 
Common residents of the valleys and foothills. Often called 
“Monkey-faced Owls.”” They frequently inhabit barns and other 
buildings. They do not harm poultry. and should be encourgaed 
to live about farm premises. The principal item of their food is 
gophers; they also catch many field mice. Barn Owls are the 
greatest friend the farmer has among birds. 
Family STRIGIDA. Horned Owls. 
A rather large family of rapacious birds. They vary in size 
from the large Great Horned Owls to the little bird owls the size 
of a sparrow. Their food varies in size also, from rabbits to 
beetles. With but one or two exceptions owls are beneficial and 
some are among the farmers’ best friends. Nocturnal or crepus- 
cular. 
154. LONG-EARED OWL. Asio wilsonius. 
Rather common residents of willow groves in the valleys and 
of oak forests in the foothills and lower mountains. They like 
rather thick cover. Their food is almost exclusively injurious 
rodents. 
155. SHORT-EARED OWL. Asio flammeus. 
Rather rare winter residents of open ground, such as salt 
marshes along the seacoast, meadows and alfalfa fields and grassy 
marshes inland. _ Hide in tufts of grass in the daytime. Often 
hunt on cloudy days over grass or weeds making cover for mice 
and gophers. Very beneficial. 
156. SPOTTED OWL. Strix occidentalis. 
Rare residents of oak forests in the foothills and pine forests 
up to 5,000 feet altitude. Habits but little known. 
