HORNED AND HOOT OWLS 



(Family 'BubonidceJ 



American Long-eared Owl 



{/4sio wilsonianus) 



Called also: CAT OWL 



Length — 14 to 1 6 inches; female the larger. 



Male and Female — Conspicuous blackish ear tufts bordered by 

 white and buff; upper parts dusky brown, finely mottled 

 with ash and dull orange; facial disk pale reddish brown 

 with darker inner circle and yellow eyes; under parts mixed 

 white and buff, the breast with long brown stripes, the sides 

 and underneath irregularly barred with dusky ; dark broken 

 bands on wings and tail ; legs and feet completely feathered ; 

 bill and claws blackish. 



Range — Temperate North America; nesting throughout its range. 



Season — Permanent resident. 



A strictly nocturnal prowler, unlike its short-eared relative 

 that hunts much by day, the long-eared owl keeps concealed 

 through the hours of sunshine in the woods, the alder swamps, 

 or high, dry, shady undergrowth, giving no hint by sign or 

 sound of its hiding place. Come upon one suddenly, and by 

 pressing its feathers close to its body, erecting its ear tufts, and 

 sitting erect, it doubtless hopes to be overlooked as a part of the 

 weather-beaten tree on which it is perching, since its thick, 

 downy, mottled plumage might readily be mistaken for rough 

 bark ; but as it blinks its staring eyes knowingly, it looks amus- 

 ingly like a mischievous, round-faced joker, half bird, half 

 human. It is not easily frightened away, and is ever peaceably 

 disposed. To look formidable when liberties are taken with it, 

 it may rufifle up its feathers until its circumference is doubled ; but 

 nothing happens, unless it be a noiseless gliding off among the 

 trees to another perch. 



22 337 



