25S 
STRIGIFORMES 
Nesting. Similar to the Screech Owl. 
Distribution. Too few specimens of this species have been recorded to base a detailed 
distribution upon them. It has occurred irregularly from British Columbia to Guatemala, 
and east to Colorado. 
We know hardly anything of its habits, but presume they are similar to 
those of the Screech Owl. One found dead on the lake shore at Penticton, 
British Columbia, is the only Canadian record. 
375. Great Horned Owl. cat owl. le grand-duc d’amerique. Bubo virgin- 
ianus. L, 22. Plate XXXII A. A large owl, over 15 inches, with prominent horns. It 
may vary from a dark bird with much black only touched with white here and there, 
and strong ochre tints showing through from the undercoat, to largely or nearly entirely 
white, with much, or little, fine, sharp black vermiculation, and a buff to cream undercoat. 
Distinctions. The only owl over 15 inches in length with prominent horns. The 
finely vermiculated pattern, and huffy under plumage, differentiate it from the broadly 
barred or spotted, and hornless Snowy Owl, with which the whitest specimens of Great 
Horned might possibly be confused. 
Field Marks. Large size and prominent horns or ear tufts. 
Distribution. The greater part of North and South America. In Canada, across 
the continent, north to the tree limit. 
SUBSPECIES. An extremely variable species. In Canada four or five subspecies 
are recognized. The Horned Owl of the east, except in Labrador and an indefinite part of 
Ungava Peninsula, is the type form, the Eastern Horned Owl (le Grand-due de 1’Est) 
Bubo virginianus virginianus. Its distinctive character is its general redness. In Labrador 
is a dark, sooty form, the Labrador Horned Owl (le Grand-duc du Labrador) Bubo 
virginianus heteroenemis. The Prairie Provinces and indefinitely northward are inhabited 
by a very pale form, the Arctic Horned Owl (le Grand-duc arctique) Bubo virginianus 
svbarcticus, occasionally almost immaculately white. Most of British Columbia and the 
Yukon has a dark race the Northwestern Horned Owl (le Grand-duc du Nord-Ouest) 
Bubo virginianus lagophonus hardly distinguishable from heteroenemis of the Labrador, and 
on the southwest coast is a still blacker form the Dusky Horned Owl (le Grand-duc 
noiratre) Bubo virginianus saturalus. As all these birds wander and move about considerably 
in winter, often lingering late in the season before returning to their proper nesting homes, 
they may turn up far from their natural habitats. 
The Great Horned Owl is the evil genius of the woods. Winding 
silently through the shadowy foliage, through the dark forest, or along the 
steep mountain or coulee sides, it is monarch of all it surveys. In a natural 
state it fears no enemies save man, and all the lesser animals and birds 
cower at its soft, hushed flight. In minor affairs, however, it has not 
things always its own way. Often one will hear a great protracted outcry 
from the crows, and the black clans will be seen gathering to a common 
point where great excitement prevails. As likely as not, a Great Horned 
Owl will be found the centre of attraction. Some sharp-eyed crow has 
seen the sleepy bird hugged close against a tree trunk, awaiting the coming 
of the night. The alarm once given it is taken up by throat after throat, 
and soon all the corvine neighbourhood joins the mobbing. They surround 
him, screaming in his face and making dashing feints, at which he braces 
himself, and snaps a hollow sounding bill, but rarely has a chance of using 
his terrible talons against his agile and discreet tormentors. The owl 
cannot throw them off; it retreats train tree to tree, but, at the first move- 
ment, the black mob renews its screams, trails away after, and never loses 
sight of its quarry until the falling shades send all crows off to roost. Then 
the tables may lie turned, and the occasional piles of glossy black feathers 
scattered about the ground show that revenge is especially sweet when it 
also furnishes a meal. It is difficult to say which, crow or owl, has the 
observer’s sympathy, but perhaps the thought suggested is that “When 
knaves fall out, honest men prosper.” Like other owls, the Great Horned 
