Flammulated Screech Owl 207 
moulted all its feathers except those of the wings and 
tail, between July 15th and September 15th. The note 
or cry most often heard was a “‘ Wow, wow,”’ resembling 
the bark of a puppy. 
Morrison found a Screech Owl breeding in La Plata 
co., in the hollows of old pifions. He took three young 
ones and an addled egg in June. It was probably this 
subspecies. 
Flammulated Screech Owl. Otus flammeolus. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 374—Colorado Records—Ridgway 79, p. 232; 
80, p. 185 ; Deane 79, p. 188 ; Ingersoll 80, p. 121 ; Brewster 83, p. 123 ; 
Drew 85, p. 17; Morrison, 89, p. 66; W.G.Smith 91, p.27; Bendire 92, 
p. 374; Hasbrouck 93, p. 260; H. G. Smith 93, p. 364; Ingraham 
97, p. 403; Cooke 97, pp. 78, 161, 206; Jones 98, p. 46; Henderson 
03, p. 235; 09, p. 280; Dille 04, p. 50; 09, p. 87; Gilman 07, p. 154; 
Cary 09, p. 181. 
Description. Smaller than, O. asio aikeni, and easily distinguished 
by its shorter ear-tufts and bare, unfeathered toes. Above finely 
mottled dusky and white, with black streaking ; the white scapulars 
tinged with tawny and often a faint wash of tawny all over the head 
and facial disk ; below paler with dark streaks, much as in O. a. atkent ; 
iris brown, bill and toes yellowish. Length 6.0; wing 5-4; tail 2-1; 
culmen -5; tarsus 1-0. 
A red phase is known, but not hitherto noticed in Colorado. Young 
birds are more or less cross-barred, especially below. 
Distribution.—From southern California and Colorado, chiefly in the 
mountains or foothills, south through Mexico to Guatemala. 
In Colorado as elsewhere this little Owl has always been, reckoned 
a very rare species, and every occurrence seems to have been carefully 
recorded. It is a resident along the eastern foothills and breeds there, 
and from about 7,000 to 10,000 feet in the mountains. 
It was first recorded from Colorado by Ridgway, who mentioned an 
example in Mrs. Maxwell’s collection, taken near Boulder, and it must 
now be considered, a not uncommon resident. 
The following are breeding records: Estes Park at 10,000 feet 
(W. G. Smith & Dille), Idaho Springs, E. Lewis (Berdire), Fremont 
co., Aiken (Deane), near Beulah 7,000 to 8,000 foet (Ingraham & Jones) 
and La Plata co. (Morrison). There are two examples in the Aiken col- 
lection taken near Colorado Springs, but it is not known from the 
western or north-western portions of the State. 
