256 
STRIGI FORMES 
FAMILY — TYTONIDAE. BARN OWLS 
The barn owls, sometimes called the monkey-faced owls from the 
heart-shaped character of the united facial disks, are represented in Canada 
by only one species and that species is rare. The middle claw is pectinated, 
having comb-like teeth on its inner edge (Figure 379b) and the inner toe is 
as long as the middle instead of being slightly shorter as in the typical owls. 
365. American Barn Owl. monkey-faced owl. l’effraie. Tyto alba. L, 18 
General ground colour a reddish ochre, lighter below, facial disk dull white with an outer 
edging of darker ochre, to brown. Back, to top of head, frosted over with ash-grey with 
numerous small eye-spots outlined in black. Underparts, throat, 
and around face, sprinkled with scattered round, dark spots. 
Distinctions. The strongly outlined, heart-shaped facial disk 
and black eyes, without horns or ear tufts (Figure 37S), soft 
yellow coloration with a suggestion of pink, and the tarsi, almost 
bare of feathers (Figure 379b) are distinctive. 
Nesting. In towers, steeples, or holes in barns, banks, or trees. 
Distribution. Nearly cosmopolitan in the warmer regions. 
In America, occurring across the continent, northward only 
casually across the Canadian boundary. There are single records 
for the species in Ontario, Manitoba, and southern British 
Columbia. 
SUBSPECIES. The American bird is now regarded as a 
geographical race, of a nearly world-wide species, under the name 
of American Barn Owl (FEffraie d’Am^rique) Tylo alba pratincola. 
This is the American representative of the ruin-haunting European 
owl so familiar in song and story. It is a wonderfully efficient mouser 
and a most valuable bird, but is rare in Canada. 
Figure 378 
Hum OwLsmIp nhnut J 
a Figure 379 b 
a, well feathered foot of Horned Owl. b, Scantily feathered foot of Barn Owl. 
FAMILY STRIGIDAE. TYPICAL OWLS 
The typical owls were formerly generalized under the term “Horned” 
or “Eared” owls from the tufts of feathers projecting from the forehead 
of many, but not all, species. It includes all the Canadian owls except the 
Barn Owl previously mentioned. With the exception of the small Burrow- 
ing and the still more minute Pygmy Owls, all species mentioned here have 
the feet heavily feathered to at least the base of the toes (Figure 379a). 
In these exceptions, the feathering of the feet is bristle-like and rudimentary 
(Similar to Figure 379b). 
373. American Screech Owl. le petit-duc d’amerique. Otus asio. L, 9-40. 
Plate XXXI B. A small, eared owl. The eastern race occurs in two well-marked colour 
phases, irrespective of age, sex, or season. One is rich brown and white, with much fine 
pattern, giving a grey effect, the other has the brown replaced by bright rufous, almost 
brick-red. The western races, however, are practically single phased, resembling the grey 
plumage of the eastern race, but of a ruddier brown. 
