Class Aves
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae
Asio flammeus—Short-eared Owl // Asio otus—Long-eared Owl // Asio priscus—Ancient Owl
Extinct species.
Sites.
Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963).
Literature. Howard 1963.
The U-Bar Cave questioned identification is based on a partial proximal portion of a femur.
Sites.
Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c: ? Gen. et sp.)
Literature. Harris 1993c.
The Short-eared Owl occurs throughout the area in winter and primarily is a grassland bird active during the day (Ligon 1961).
Fig. 1. Asio flammeus. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service.
Sites.
Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000: cf.).
Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003).
Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: ? gen.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).
Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-24 ka (Harris 1989); Camel Room (Harris 1993c: cf.); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989: cf.); TT II (Harris 1993c).
Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932); Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006).
Literature. Brasso and Emslie 20006; Harris
1989, 1993c, 2003; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Rogers et al. 2000; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris
1992; Wetmore 1932.
The Long-eared Owl is present in the region in number during the winter, sparsely nesting in the region. This owl frequents brush and forest (Ligon 1961).
Fig. 1. Long-eared Owl. Image after Coues (1903).
Sites.
Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).
Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.).
Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933: ?); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962).
Literature: Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Howard 1962; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 1984.
Sites.
Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Campbell 2013); Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island (Howard 1964).
Literature: Campbell 2013; Howard 1964.
Last Update: 27 Mar 2014