BIRDS OF PREY 
373. Screech Owl. Otus asio asio. 
Range. — North America, east of the plains 
and from the southern British Provinces to 
Florida. 
WhitP 
This well known 
species, which is of- 
ten called “Little 
Horned Owl” be- 
cause of its ear tufts 
is found either in the 
type form of some of 
its varieties in all 
parts of the United 
States. They have 
two color phases, the 
plumage being either 
a yellowish brown or 
gray, and black and white; these color phases 
are not dependent upon sex or locality, as often 
young or both phases are found in the same 
nest; the gray phase is the most abundant. 
They nest anywhere in hollow trees, being 
found very frequently in decayed stubs of apple trees. They also often nest in 
barns or other old buildings which are not frequented too freely. Their food 
consists chiefly of mice and meadow moles, with occasionally small birds. 
During April or May they lay their white eggs, the full complement of which 
is from five to eight. Size 1.35 x 1.20. The nesting habits of all the sub-species, 
as far as we can learn, are exactly like those of the eastern Screech Owl; the 
eggs cannot be distinguished, and in most cases, even the birds cannot be dis- 
tinguished. 
Screech Owl 
373a. Florida Screech Owl. Otus asio floridanus. 
Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 
Slightly smaller and darker than asio. The eggs average slightly smaller. 
Size 1.30 x 1.15. 
373b. Texas Screech Owl. Otus asio mccalli. 
Range. — Texas, and southward into Mexico. Very similar to floridanus. 
373c. California Screech Owl. Otus asio bendirei. 
Range. — Coast of California and Oregon. Size of, but darker than asio. 
373d. Kennicott’s Screech Owl. Otus asio kennicotti. 
Range. — Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska. This is the darkest of the 
Screech Owls and averages a trifle larger than the eastern form. 
373e. Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. Otus asio maxwellios. 
Range. — Foothills of the Rockies, from Colorado to Montana. This is the 
palest form of the Screech Owl. Of the same size as the last, 
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