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(photo by Marcel Gahbauer)
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Size: 33-40 cm
(similar to large pigeon or small Crow). Description:
Dark brown, somewhat like a slim version of a Great Horned Owl but with
vertical stripes instead of horizontal ones. Orange facial disks and
long ear tufts close together on the head. Range:
Breeds in southern British Columbia, throughout the prairies and most of
Ontario, in the southern half of Quebec, and in the maritime provinces.
Winters in southern Ontario and the United States. Habitat:
Woods near open fields or marshes in summer. Prefers dense pine forests
or plantations in winter. Nest: Abandoned hawk or
crow nest. Voice: Quiet except during courtship when
a wide variety of hoots, shrieks, and barks are produced. Diet:
Almost entirely rodents; rarely birds. Behaviour: Strictly
a nocturnal hunter. Notes: When alarmed, stands fully
upright as thin as possible and with ear tufts completely erect, and can
easily be mistaken for a branch. |
