What bird is that?

by Frank M. Chapman

HORNED OWLS, HOOT OWLS, ETC. FAMILY STRIGIDÆ

LONG-EARED OWL
Asio wilsonianus. [Case 1], Fig. 17

Distinguished by very long ear-tufts. L. 14¾.

Range. Temperate North America. Winters south to Georgia and Louisiana.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, rare, P.R. but sometimes common in fall and winter. N. Ohio, uncommon P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare, fall records only, Nov. 7-Dec. 14.

An Owl of evergreen clumps and dense growths, where its presence is often betrayed by the litter below of undigested pellets of hair and bones which Owls eject at the mouth. It is not a "hoot" Owl, and even many ornithologists have not heard its notes, which are described as a "soft-toned, slow wu-hunk, wu-hunk, and a low twittering, whistling dicky, dicky, dicky." It is not a hole-inhabiting Owl and like the Great Horned nests in an old Hawk, Crow, or Squirrel nest. Three to six white eggs are laid in April.

SHORT-EARED OWL
Asio flammeus. [Case 1], Fig. 18

The 'ears' are barely evident, the eyes are yellow; underparts streaked. L. 15½.

Range. Found throughout the greater part of the world; migrating southward at the northern part of its North American range.

Washington, common W.V. Ossining, casual. Cambridge, T.V., Mch. 15-Apl. 15, rare; Oct.-Nov., uncommon. N. Ohio, uncommon P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare, Dec. 11-May 15. SE. Minn., common S.R.

This is a marsh Owl and we are therefore not likely to find it associated with other members of its family. Its notes are said to resemble the ki-yi of a small dog. Four to seven white eggs are laid in an open nest in the grasses in April.

BARRED OWL
Strix varia varia. [Case 1], Fig. 15

A large Owl with black eyes (the figure is incorrect) and no 'ears.' L. 20.

Range. Eastern North America. Generally a Permanent Resident. The Florida Barred Owl (S. v. alleni, [Case 3], Fig. 16), is somewhat darker than the northern form and has nearly naked toes. It inhabits Florida and the coast region from South Carolina to Texas.

Washington, not common, rare P.R. Ossining, rare P.R. Cambridge, P.R., sometimes common in Nov. and Dec. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare and local P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

An Owl of the woods, common in the less thickly settled parts of its range. Its loud, sonorous notes, whoo, whoo-whoo who-whoo, to-whoo-ah, are often uttered. When two birds come together their united calls produce some of the most startling sounds to be heard in nature. The Barred Owl feeds chiefly on mice. It nests in hollow trees in March, laying 2-4 white eggs.

GREAT GRAY OWL
Scotiaplex nebulosa nebulosa

Largest of American Owls, with a general resemblance to the Barred Owl, but nearly a third larger and with yellow eyes. L. 27.

Range. Northern North America, rarely straggling to United States in winter.

Cambridge, very rare and irregular W.V. SE. Minn., rare W.V.

RICHARDSON'S OWL
Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni

A small Owl about the size of a Screech Owl, but without ear-tufts. It is grayish brown above and both head and back are spotted with black; the underparts are white heavily streaked with grayish brown.

Range. Northern Canada and Alaska, rarely visiting the eastern United States in winter. We are not likely to meet this Owl.

Cambridge, very rare W.V.

SAW-WHET OWL
Cryptoglaux acadica acadica. [Case 2], Fig. 41

Smallest of our Owls; eyes yellow, no ear-tufts. L. 8.

Range. Nests in the northern United States and northward, south in the Alleghanies to Maryland; winters rather rarely and irregularly southward to Virginia.

Washington, rare W.V., Oct.-Mch. Ossining, rather rare W.V., Oct. 28-Jan. 13. Cambridge, not uncommon, W.V., Nov.-Mch. N. Ohio, rare P.R. SE. Minn., uncommon. P.R.

A tame little Owl which sometimes may be caught in one's hand. It passes the day in dense growth, usually evergreens. Its note resembles the "sound made when a large-tooth saw is being filed."

SCREECH OWL
Otus asio asio. [Case 1], Figs. 13, 14

The two sexes are alike, the two color phases being individual and representing dichromatism. Among animals, gray and black squirrels furnish a similar case. The ear-like feather-tufts give the bird a cat-like appearance, hence the name 'Cat Owl.' The young are downy-looking creatures evenly barred with dusky. L. 9½.

Range. Screech Owls are found throughout the greater part of the Western Hemisphere. Our eastern form occurs in the eastern United States from Canada southward. The Florida race (O. a. floridanus, [Case 3], Fig. 19) is smaller and of a darker gray than the northern bird. The 'red' phase is rare.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, common P.R. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

This, the smallest of our 'horned' Owls, is also the commonest. It lives near and sometimes in our homes even when they are situated in towns. Its tremulous, wailing whistle (in no sense a 'screech') is therefore one of our most characteristic twilight bird-notes. Mice and insects form the greater part of the Screech Owl's fare. Four to six white eggs are laid in a hollow tree, bird-box, or similar site in April.

GREAT HORNED OWL
Bubo virginianus virginianus. [Case 1], Fig. 16

Largest of the 'horned' Owls. L. 22.

Range. Western Hemisphere in many forms; our form is confined to the eastern United States. A Permanent Resident.

Washington, rare P.R. Ossining, tolerably common P.R. Cambridge, uncommon, autumn or winter. N. Ohio, rare P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

The Great Horned Owl retreats before the civilization that destroys the forests in which it lives. In thinly settled regions its deep-toned, monotone, whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, whooo, whooo is still a characteristic bird voice, but most of us hear it only when we camp in the wilderness. The bird's fierce nature has won for it the name of "tiger among birds." Rabbits, skunks, game birds and smaller prey form its fare. The 2-3 white eggs are laid in an abandoned Hawk, Crow, or squirrel nest in February; it is the first of our northern birds to nest.

SNOWY OWL
Nyctea nyctea

A large Owl with no 'ear' tufts and yellow eyes; chiefly white with small brownish or blackish markings. L. 25.

Range. Nests in Arctic regions, migrating southward irregularly in winter to the northern United States.

Washington, casual W.V. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, rare and irregular W.V. N. Ohio, rare W.V. Glen Ellyn, very rare W.V. SE. Minn., common W.V., Oct.-Apl.

A rare winter visitant which is more often seen along the seashore. Unlike most Owls it hunts by day, feeding chiefly on mice but also on birds.

HAWK OWL
Surnia ulula caparoch

A medium-sized Owl with a whitish face and yellow eyes and a long, rounded tail; the head is spotted, the back barred with whitish; the underparts are barred with white and blackish. L. 15; T. 7¼.

Range. Northern North America, rarely visiting the northern United States in winter.

Cambridge, very rare in late fall. N. Ohio, rare W.V. SE. Minn., uncommon W.V., Oct.-Mch.

"The Hawk Owl is strictly diurnal, as much so as any of the Hawks, and like some of them often selects a tall shrub or dead-topped tree in a comparatively open place for a perch, where it sits in the bright sunlight watching for its prey" (Fisher).

FLORIDA BURROWING OWL
Speotyto cunicularia floridana

A small, ground Owl, with nearly naked legs and feet and no ear-tufts. The upperparts are grayish brown marked with white; the throat is white, rest of underparts barred with grayish brown and white. L. 9.

Range. Southern Florida, chiefly in the Kissimmee Prairie region.

This is a representative of our western Burrowing Owl, which, in some way unknown to man, has established itself far from others of its kind in central southern Florida, where it is locally common. It nests in a hole in the ground, excavated by itself, and lays 5-7 white eggs in March.

---