. New England bird life: being a manual of New England ornithology; . Fig. 16. — Great Horned Owl. SCOPS ASIO : SCREECH OWL ; RED OR MOTTLED OWL. 89 SCREECH OWL: RED OR MOTTLED asio (Z.) Bp. Chars. A miniature Bubo in form, with equally conspicuous ear-tufts, feathered legs and bristly toes. The plumage differs soremarkably (and not according to age, sex, or season), that the red, and gray or mottled Owl were long supposed to betwo distinct species. In the gray plumage, the bird is gray,paler or whitish below, speckled with blackish above, and belowblotched with the same. In the othe
. New England bird life: being a manual of New England ornithology; . Fig. 16. — Great Horned Owl. SCOPS ASIO : SCREECH OWL ; RED OR MOTTLED OWL. 89 SCREECH OWL: RED OR MOTTLED asio (Z.) Bp. Chars. A miniature Bubo in form, with equally conspicuous ear-tufts, feathered legs and bristly toes. The plumage differs soremarkably (and not according to age, sex, or season), that the red, and gray or mottled Owl were long supposed to betwo distinct species. In the gray plumage, the bird is gray,paler or whitish below, speckled with blackish above, and belowblotched with the same. In the other condition, the general toneis bright brownish-red above, with sharp black streaks ; below,whitish or fulvous, much variegated. In either state, the wingsand tail are barred with light and dark colors. Length, inches ; extent, about ; wing, ; tail, Fig. 17. — Screech Owl, 90 STRIGID^ : OWLS. A very common New England species, like the last,but strictly nocturnal, seeming dazed by the light when-ever it is forced to fly from the dark nooks where itloves to pass the day. The Great Horned Owl, on theother hand, flies well by day, seeming little incommodedin the sunshine. The nest of this little species is in ahollow tree, with sticks, leaves or feathers to receivethe eggs : these are four to six in number, measuringabout by , and are laid usually in April. Thebird is one of those that comes the most familiarly abouthouses, sometimes even taking up its residence in an out-building. Its tremulous, screeching notes, very differentfrom the deep-mouthed hooting of the larger Owls, arefamiliar to all who have any experience with ruralsounds. Like other Owls, the whole tribe of which aremore notable in such respect than the diurnal birds ofprey, the present species is very beneficial to the farmerby destroying field-mice. It is
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