The Burrowing Owl 



BURROWING OWLS 



six- or seven-barred; extreme forehead, ill-defined superciliary stripe, and throat, 

 broadly, white; jugulum crossed b)' mottled band of brown and white, beneath which 

 a pectoral semilune of white; remaining underparts white or pale ochraceous-buff, 

 heavily barred, save on lower belly and crissum, with brown and brownish dusky; 

 lining of wings chiefly pale ochraceous. The plumage is very variable both in the shade 

 of brown and in the amount of white admixed, some specimens appearing nearly 

 white on the head and upper back. Bill bluish dusky, changing to yellow on ridge and 

 tip; iris lemon-yellow; claws black. Young birds are less spotted above, on head and 

 back nearly uniform grayish brown, and are unmarked below save on jugular band. 

 Chicks are covered with white down. Length 241.3 (9.50); wing 171. 5 (6.75); tail 81.3 

 (3.20); bill from cere 14 (.55); tarsus 44 (1.73). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size, but appearing much larger; terrestrial habits; 

 head without plumicorns; light grayish brown coloration. 



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