BIRDS OF PREY 



(370) Scotiaptex nebulosa 



nebulosa (Forsler) (Gr., darkness, 

 caf,'le-o\Yi: Lat., clouded}. 



GREAT GRAY OWL. Owing to 

 the long, loose feathering, this species 

 appears to be one of the largest of 

 our owls, whereas in reality it weighs 

 little more than half as much as the 

 Great Horned and Snowy Owls. 

 Facial disc very large; ej'es small 

 and yellow. Plumage as shown, the 

 upper parts being clouded dusky- 

 brownish. L., 27.00; Ex., 5 feet; W., 

 17.00; T., 12.00; Nest — In trees, 

 usually coniferous ones in densely 

 wooded regions; of sticks, lined with 

 moss and some feathers; two to four 

 white eggs, 2.15 x 1.70. 



Range — Breeds from Hudson Bay 

 to central Alaska. Winters south 

 to the northern border of the U. S. 

 and casually to Mass., N. Y. and Ohio. 



species is one of the so-called "Hoot Owls." Its notes are 

 quite varied, but may be likened to a series of hollow but 

 loud and sonorous sounds like " hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, too-hoo- 

 ah"; occasionally the tones will change to a "ha-ha-ha, " 

 like a person laughing; less often they will mingle a mournful 

 wail in with their hootings. 



Barred Owls are not as harmless as the preceding species, 

 but it is believed that the good they do in the way of destruc- 

 tion of mice, rats, squirrels, etc., outweighs the harm they do 

 in occasionally taking poultry or other birds; when hungry, 

 they are not particular as to the species of birds they devour, 

 for they have been known to take Screech and Saw-whet Owls. 



Barred Owls ordinarily nest in natural ca\'ities of trees, 

 preferably those in large woods or swamps near water. Since 

 such sites are not readily obtained where much large timber 

 is cut away, they occasionally make use of old crow or hawk 

 nests. They breed early, the eggs being laid usually in 

 March, even in the north where the ground is covered 

 with snow. 



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