BIRDS OF PREY 



«iPF*tta. 



(378) Speotyto cunicularia 

 hypogaa 



(Bonap.) (Gr., a cave, owl; Lat., a 

 biirrower; Gr., underground). 



BURROWING OW'X. Faciil 

 disc incomplete. No ears. Tail very 

 short. Legs very long and slender; 

 tarsi very scantily feathered in 

 front and bare behind; toes and the 

 legs more or less bristly. Plumage 

 as shown, much spotted and barred 

 with brown and white. L., 9.50; 

 W., 6.75; T., 3.00; Tar., 1.75. 

 Nest — At the end of burrows dug 

 by prairie dogs, badgers, skunks 

 or fo.xes; five to ten white eggs. 



Range — Western U. S. from Minn., 

 Kan. and Tex. west to the Pacific 

 coast. (378a), FLORIDA BUR- 

 ROWING OWL (S. c. floridanus), 

 found in southern Fla., is smaller and 

 lias even less feathering on the tarsi. 



BURROWING OWLS are peculiar, long-legged species 

 that are abundant on the plains and prairies of our Western 

 and Southwestern States and also in the interior of southern 

 Florida. They live in burrows in the ground, but do not 

 dig these themselves. Either ground squirrel, gopher, or 

 prairie dog homes are satisfactory to them after they have 

 driven out the original occupant. They not only do not 

 live in harmony with these creatures, as sometimes stated, 

 but even enter other burrows to secure the young, of which 

 they are fond. Small as they are, they are undoubtedly 

 more than a match for prairie dogs, and frequently kill 

 adult squirrels. Other food consists chiefly of smaller 

 rodents and numerous insects. Although quite diurnal in 

 their habits, they do the greater part of their hunting after 

 dusk. Their flight is very silent, as usual with owls, so their 

 quarry is struck down often before aware of their presence. 

 Their usual notes are a sort of chattering, uttered while in 

 flight. Their numerous white eggs are laid in enlarged 

 chambers at the ends of the burrows. 



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