BIRDS OF NEW YORK 115 



owl the distinction of being our only species nonseparable, even by sub- 

 specific rank, from the old world forms. It breeds from Alaska and Green- 

 land southward to New Jersey and Kansas,- and, in winter, is found from 

 Massachusetts, Ohio and California southward to Cuba and Guatemala. 



Strix varia varia Barton 

 Barred Owl 



Plate 54 



Strix varius Barton. Fragm. N. H. Penn. 1799. 11 

 Ulula nebulosa DeKay. Zool. N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 29, fig. 21 

 Strix varia varia. A. 0. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. p. 170. No. 368 

 strix, Lat., Gr., (J^py^, an owl; varia, Lat., variegated 



Description. No "horns"; ^yes dark brownish black; upper parts 

 umber brown barred with whitish; tail bars 6 to 8; under parts dull white 

 barred on the breast and heavily streaked on the belly with dark brown; face 

 gray with fine dusky concentric rings; bill yellowish. Young: More spotted 

 above, barred below. 



Length 19.5-24 inches; extent 44-50; wing 13-14; tail 9-10; weight 

 20-32 ounces. 



The absence of ear tufts and the barring of the breast distinguish 

 this species from our other large owls. When I have caught a hurried 

 glimpse of some large owl retreating through the forest or down some ravine, 

 the general grayish brown effect has served to distinguish this species 

 from the more ocherous brown of the Great horned owl; while its, superior 

 size, much larger head and grayer tone are sufficiently different from the 

 Long -eared owl, our other woodland species. 



Distribution. The Barred owl is found throughout New York State, 

 and breeds wherever it finds swampy woods or forests of sufficient extent 

 to secure it protection from its one great enemy, civiHzed man. It is 

 undoubtedly the commonest owl in the Adirondacks, and is still common 

 in all the more wooded districts of the State. Although as nearly a strictly 

 resident species as any of our owls, it is most numerous in fall and early 

 winter when the young of the year are scattering in search of hunting 

 grounds, and birds from farther north are seeking a milder climate. The 

 range of our subspecies is from Hudson bay and Newfoundland to Kansas 



