Territorial behavior of the flammulated screech owl

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I had the good fortune to observe the Flammulated Screech Owl (Otus ftammeolus) during the summer of 1938 at two localities, both in the Sequoia National Forest of the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County, California. The first locality is the vicinity of Whitaker's Forest (property of The University of California) on the west slope of Redwood Mountain. The life-zone is Transition, consisting of open forest of yellow pine, white fur, incense cedar, and black oak which lies just below the heavy stands of big tree, Sequoia gigantea. The results of observations made here from May 20 to July 9 and from August 6 to 15 are summarized on the accompanying map and table. I found at least eighteen males, of which six were collected. Their territories, shown on the map, fall within an area of about two square miles between the altitudes of 4850 feet and 5800 feet. Females were heard or seen in five of these territories. One juvenile was obtained from campers near Whitaker's Forest. The dates of observation (both successful and attempted) of each individual are listed in the table. The second locality is in the Canadian zone timber (Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine and red fir) at Big Meadow, 7659 feet altitude, five miles east of Whitaker's Forest. Four males were collected and one female was heard on July 10. These were found within an area of fifty acres. The female was heard there again on August 15. The eleven specimens from both localities are now numbers 74629-39 in the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.

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Reference Code: A39MAR01IDUS

Full Citation: Marshall, J. T., Jr. 1939. Territorial behavior of the flammulated screech owl. Condor 41(2): 71-78.

Location: ANIMAL EF: OTUS FLAMMEOLUS