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American Osprey; Fish Hawk
Adult Male--Upper parts grayish brown, with more or less white markings on top of head; under parts white, sometimes marked with dark gray or brown. Length--23.10.
Adult Female--Has the breast invariably spotted.
Breeding Range--Throughout North America, chiefly along the sea-coast.
The nest, which is very large, is made of sticks, sea-weed, and various other materials, depending on locality. It is placed in trees, either dead or alive, on stumps, and on almost any available place, and is used for succeeding years. Several nests are usually to be found near together. Seldom more than 3 eggs are laid, 4 being an uncommon number. They vary very greatly both in their ground colour and markings; in some the dark reddish-brown blotches completely cover the ground colour, while in others the whitish ground colour is almost immaculate; usually the markings are fairly heavy. Size--2.40 x 1.75. See Fig. 2, Plate A.
366.American Long-eared Owl: Asio wilsonianus (Less.)
Adult--Upper parts dark brown, finely mottled with white, with some buff showing; under parts white, buff, and dark grayish brown, streaked on the breast and barred on the belly. Ear tufts about one inch long. Length--14.80.
Breeding Range--Throughout the United States.
The nest is seldom made by the birds themselves; usually a crow's or squirrel's nest is used, some small work in the way of repairing being done, and a few feathers and leaves added. 3 to 6 white eggs are laid. Size--1.60 x 1.32.
Large Nests in Trees
The breeding season begins early in April. The period of incubation occupies about three weeks.