THE CALIFORNIA SCREECH OWL. 361 



124. Megascops asio bendirei (Brewster). 



CALIFORNIA SCREECH OWL. 



Scops asio bendirei Brewster, Bulletin Nuttall Ornithological Club, vil, January, 



1882, 31. 

 Megascops asio bendirei Stejneger, Auk, 11, April, 1885, 184. 

 (B -, C — , R — , C -, U 373c.) 



GeograpThical RANGE: California. 



The range of the Califomia Screech Owl, a brownish gray and somewhat 

 larger bird than any of the preceding races of Megascops, and only found in 

 this phase, is confined, so far as known, to the State of California, and princi- 

 pally if not wholly to tliat portion lying west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 

 It has also been reported from southwestern Oregon, but I believe that the 

 birds found there, and even those of the coast regions of northern California, 

 in Del Noi'te and Humboldt Counties, are not typical, but intermediate between 

 this race and Megascops asio saturatus, a new subspecies recently described by 

 Mr. William Brewster hi The Auk (Vol. viii, April, 1891, p. 141). Our present 

 knowledge regarding these different subspecies is still too limited to define 

 their ranges with any degree of accuracy. It is well known that a Screecli 

 Owl is also found on the peninsula of Lower California that has not as yet 

 been fully identified, though it may prove to be this form, but is much more 

 likely to be Megascops asio trichopsis, or a new race. They are constant resi- 

 dents and breed wherever found. 



Their general habits are essentially like those of the eastern Screech Owls, 

 except that, according to Mr. Charles A. Allen, of Nicasio, Marin County, Cali- 

 fornia, their call notes are slightly different and more prolonged. He also 

 informs me that they are very fond of a cold bath in the early mornings, 

 and literally soak tliemselves, and that he has shot them in the act. He also 

 says they are the commonest Owl in that vicinity. 



Mr. W. Otto Emerson, of Haywards, California, nailed some boxes up in a 

 small grove of Australian gum trees on March 14, 1885. Examining these 

 on April 10, he found one occupied by a pair of these Owls which contained 

 two eggs, the parent flushing and flyhig into a tree close by. Two days later 

 another egg had been laid, but no more were deposited after that date. Incu- 

 bation, he says, did not commence until the 17th. The male was only seen 

 once during incubation, when he appeared instantly at the call of the female, 

 which had also left the box. As he climbed up to examine it the male snapped 

 his mandibles at him from a limb overhead. On May 10 he found three white 

 downy owlets in the nest, one not yet quite dry. He says: "The mother 

 seemed to think I was getting too free with her household, for when I took 

 one out she flew about, calling the male. They both came near, snapping- their 

 bills all the while. The young could not hold up their lieads, their eyes were 

 round and full, but not open. On taking them out they gave a slight peep, like 



