Birds of Allegany Park 309 



The nest is a bulky mass of sticks in a tall tree. I suspected a 

 pair nesting on a tributary of lower Quaker Run, but did not 

 locate the site. Young birds, most probably of this species, were 

 seen near that point and on the head of Pine Creek July 17 and 20. 



Barred Owl. Strix varia varia Barton 



This is the only large owl that has been found in the Park. It 

 is easily identified by its large size and round head without ear tufts, 

 a point that will distinguish it from either the Horned or Long- 

 eared Owls that may occur there. The general color of the plumage 

 is grayish brown, barred above, lighter and barred and streaked 

 •below. 



It is difficult to judge of the abundance of owls in a region, as they 

 sit quietly in thick trees in the daytime and are likely to be over- 

 looked. When smaller birds find them they usually advertise the 

 fact by their excited cries. The two Barred Owls which I saw in 

 the Park were disco verd in this way. One in the Big Basin was 

 found July 19 through the cries of an excited Wood Thrush, and the 

 second near Quaker Run. August 5, through the unusual cawing of 

 a flock of Crows. 



The call of the Barred Owl is a deep hooting. Several " hoos " 

 are repeated in regular time, with a downward slur on the last, a 

 point that will distinguish it from a possible Horned Owl, whose 

 notes are all on the same pitch, but less regular in time. 



The nest is in a hollow tree or in the old nest of a Crow or hawk. 



Yellow-throated Vireo. Lanivireo flavifrons (Vieill.) 



This bird is the most brightly colored of the Vireos, and easily 

 distinguished from others by the clear yellow throat, white wing 

 bars, greenish head, and gray wings and tail. 



The Yellow-throat is rare in the Park. I met with it twice on the 

 edge of a forest in the Quaker Run Valley, probably the same bird. 

 It was reported by others in other locations and is likely to be found 

 anywhere in the Park where there are forests or shade trees. 



The song of this bird resembles that of the Red-eyed Vireo, but 

 averages lower in pitch, with a peculiarly different quality, and is 

 less variable. The phrases are commonly of only two or three notes 

 each, and the pauses between phrases are longer than in those of 

 the Red-eyed Vireo. Each individual possesses five to nine differ- 

 ent phrases. Often for a long time it sings only two or three, 

 repeating them over and over till they become monotonous. 



The nest is not distinguishable from those of other vireos. 



Red-shouldered Hawk. Buteo lineatus lineatus (Gmel.) 



This large Hawk is not difficult to distinguish from others except 

 the Red-tailed Hawk, from which it can be separated by the darker 

 reddish under parts, the reddish shoulders and the lack of a reddish 

 tail. Young birds are difficult to identify. The voice will always 

 distinguish the species, however. 



It is less common in the forests of the Park than the Red-tail, 



