90 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



to Dakota, etc." Mr. Rudolph M. Anderson in "The Birds of 

 Iowa" reports it as "a casual straggler in winter." 



It is the largest of North American Owls, measuring two 

 feet or more in length. Upper parts dark brown mixed with gray- 

 ish white. Under parts the same in color, with irregular bars but 

 paler. Prominent facial disk with small eyes. No ear tufts; 

 legs and feet feathered. It inhabits wooded regions. 



371. Richardson's Owl (Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni.) 



A rare winter resident in our State. Length ten inches ; 

 no ear tufts ; above, brown with white spots ; below, white 

 streaked with brown ; feet feathered to the toes. Nests north of 

 the United States in hollow trees. 



372. Saw-whet Owl (Cryptoglaux acadica acadka.) 



The smallest of our Owls, averaging only about eight 

 inches in length. Back, wings and tail uniform dull brown 

 spotted with white; crown streaked with white; under parts 

 white and brown; facial disk nearly white; toes feathered. 



This Owl inhabits wooded districts and nests in hollow 

 trees or old Woodpecker holes. Owing to its habit of retiring 

 into dark woods it probably is not often observed. In some in- 

 stances it may be taken for the Screech Owl. 



373. Screech Owl (Otus asio asio.) 



Screech Owls are common over the state and are perman- 

 ent residents, spending their lives in the vicinity where they are 

 raised. They are larger than the Saw-whet Owl, measuring 

 nine to ten inches in length. Unlike other species of Owls in 

 our State, the Screech Owl has two color phases, gray and red. 

 We quote Mr. Frank M. Chapman's description: "With ear 

 tufts ; eyes yellow. Adults, gray phase : above, buffy gray ir- 

 regularly marked with black; below, gray, white, rusty and 

 black. Adults, red phase : above, bright rusty brown with a few 

 black streaks ; below, white streaked with black and barred with 

 rusty brown. Young : above, gray or rusty barred with bljck 

 and white; below, white thickly barred with blackish." The 

 two-color phases may develop in individuals of the same nest. 

 Some writers contend that the same individuals may pass from 

 one phase to the other independently of sex, season or locality. 



