OWLS 23 



settled regions its deep-toned, monotone, whoo-hoo-hoo- 

 hoo, wkooo, whooo is still a characteristic bird voice, but 

 most of us hear it only when we camp in the wilderness. 

 The bird's fierce nature has won for it the name of "tiger 

 among birds." Rabbits, skunks, game birds and smaller 

 prey form its fare. The 2-3 white eggs are laid in an 

 abandoned Hawk, Crow, or squirrel nest in February; 

 it is the first of our northern birds to nest. 



SNOWY OWL 

 Nyctea nyctea 



A large Owl with no 'ear' tufts and yellow eyes; chiefly 

 white with small brownish or blackish markings. L. 25. 



Range. Nests in Arctic regions, migrating southward irregu- 

 larly in winter to the northern United States. 



Washington, casual W. V. Ossining, A. V. Cambridge, rare 

 and irregular W. V. N. Ohio, rare W. V. Glen Ellyn, very 

 rare W. V. SE. Minn., common W. V., Oct.-Apl. 



A rare winter visitant which is more often seen along 

 the seashore. Unlike most Owls it hunts by day, feeding 

 chiefly on mice but also on birds. 



HAWK OWL 

 Surnia alula caparock 



A medium-sized Owl with a whitish face and yellow eyes and a 

 long, rounded tail; the head is spotted, the back barred with 

 whitish; the underparts are barred with white and blackish. 

 L. is; T. 7i. 



Range. Northern North America, rarely visiting the northern 

 United States in winter. 



Cambridge, very rare in late fall. N. Ohio, rare W. V. SE. 

 Minn., uncommon W. V., Oct.-Mch. 



"The Hawk Owl is strictly diurnal, as much so as any 

 of the Hawks, and like some of them often selects a tall 

 shrub or dead-topped tree in a comparatively open place 

 for a perch, where it sits in the bright sunlight watching 

 for its prey " (Fisher). 



