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Range (Eastern North America) (III)

Eastern North America, northward to Nova Scotia and Manitoba; resident, except at the northern limit of its range. Washington, not common P. R. Sing Sing, rare P. R. Cambridge, rare P. R., sometimes common in Nov. and Dec.

Nest, in a hollow tree; sometimes in an old Crow's or Hawk's nest. Eggs, two to four, 2.00 × 1.65.

The deep-toned, questioning voice, the absence of "horns," and the dark-brown, nearly black eyes, combine to make Barred Owls appear among the most human of these strangely human birds. They inhabit large tracts of woodland, and are generally resident in certain localities. Their notes are uttered more or less throughout the year, but are more frequently heard during the nesting reason. As a rule they call only during the first part of the night and again before sunrise, but on moonlight nights they call throughout the night, and occasionally they may be heard during the day. They readily respond to an imitation of their cries, and even at midday I have drawn them from their nesting place to meet a supposed intruder on their domain. Under favorable circumstances they may be heard at a distance of at least half a mile.

Their usual call is a sonorous whoo-whoo-whoo, who-whoõ, tō-whōōāh. This is varied, both as to relative position and length of the syllables, by the same individuals, and is apparently the cry of question and response. When two birds, perhaps rival males, come together, there ensues a striking medley of whă-whăs mingled with rolling whōō-ǎhs, the whole reminding one of deep-voiced, mirthless laughter. Sometimes two birds give a concerted performance. One utters about ten rapid hoots, while the other, in a slightly higher tone, hoots half as fast, both performers ending together with a whōō-ah. At times they utter a single, prolonged whōō-ah, and more rarely a weird, gasping shriek emphasized at its conclusion like a cry of distress. "Of 109 stomachs examined, 5 contained poultry or game; 13, other birds; 46, mice; 18, other mammals; 4, frogs; 1, a lizard; 2, fish; 14, insects; 2, spiders; 9, crawfish; and 20 were empty (Fisher). دو 368a. S. n. alleni Ridgw. FLORIDA BARRED OWL.-Similar to the preceding, but averaging somewhat darker, and with the toes nearly naked. W., 12.50; T., 8.50.