180 
HORNED OWLS, ETC. 
2. Lighter. acadica, p. 180. 
2'. Darker . ..scotaea, p. 181. 
371. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni ( Bonap .). Richard¬ 
son Owl. 
Adults. — Eye ring black, face whitish ; under parts gray, heavily 
blotched with dark brown across breast and streaked with dark brown on 
belly; upper parts dark brown, spotted with white ; flanks and feet 
usually huffy , more or less spotted with brown; under tail coverts striped 
with brown. Young: face blackish, eyebrows and malar streak white in 
sharp contrast; wings and tail like adult; body plain seal brown except 
for yellowish brown on belly and flanks ; flanks more or less spotted with 
brown. Length: 9-12, wing 0.60-7.40, tail 4.10-4.70. 
Distribution. — Northern North America from the limit of trees south 
in winter to Oregon and Colorado. 
Nest. — Probably in holes in trees and, in absence of trees, in bushes. 
Eggs: probably 3 to 7, white. 
Food. — Mice, small birds, and insects. 
“Richardson’s owl is a boreal species inhabiting North America 
from the limit of trees south to the northern tier of states. ... It is 
common throughout northern Alaska, wherever trees or large bushes 
occur to afford it shelter. ... It is nocturnal in its habits, remain¬ 
ing quiet during the day in the thick foliage of the trees or bushes. 
In fact, its vision is apparently so affected by bright light that many 
specimens have been captured alive by persons walking up and 
taking them in their hands. On this account the Eskimo in Alaska 
have given it the name of ‘blind one.’” (Fisher.) 
372. Nyctala acadica ( Gmel.). Saw-whet Owl. 
Adults. — Eye ring whitish, face streaked with dark brown ; under parts 
white, streaked vertically with reddish 
brown, most thickly on breast; upper 
parts olive brown, marked with white, 
finely streaked on head, and coarsely 
streaked or spotted on back, wings, and 
tail; feet plain white or huffy. Young: 
face blackish, in sharp contrast to 
white eyebrows and white malar 
streak ; upper parts and breast plain 
dark seal brown; wings and tail as in 
adult; belly yellowish brown. Length: 
7.25-8.50, wing 5.25-5.90, tail 2.80- 
3.25. 
Distribution. — From about latitude 
50° to southern United States, breed¬ 
ing south to Pennsylvania, New Mex¬ 
ico, and California. 
Nest. — A deserted woodpecker hole, hollow of a tree, or old squirrel’s 
nest. Eggs : 3 to 7, white. 
Food. — Almost wholly mice, but also other small mammals and insects. 
The deeper and darker the forest the better it suits this little 
Fig. 246. 
