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Class Aves
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Asio flammeus—Short-eared Owl // Asio otus—Long-eared Owl // Asio priscus—Ancient Owl

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Asio sp.—Eared OwlsRegional Pleistocene distribution of extinct Asio sp.

Extinct species.

Sites.

Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963).

Literature. Howard 1963.

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Asio sp.—Eared OwlsPleistocene regional distribution of Asio sp.

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.

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Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan 1763)—Short-eared OwlPleistocene regional distribution of Asio flammeus

Asio flammeus, National Park Sevice photographThe 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.

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Asio otus (Linnaeus 1758)—Long-eared OwlPleistocene regional distribution of Asio otus

Asio otus, from Coues 1903The 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.

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Asio priscus Howard 1964—Ancient OwlPleistocene regional distribution of Asio priscus

Sites.

Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Campbell 2013); Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island (Howard 1964).

Literature: Campbell 2013; Howard 1964.

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Last Update: 27 Mar 2014