Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 6

Barn Owl: Tyto alba

Range: Found on all continents except for Antarctica.

Typical Size: Adult Barn Owls have an average length

of 12 to 16 inches with a wing span of 39 to 59 inches.

Distinguishing/Key Features: Barn Owls are medium

sized with rounded heads and no ear tufts. The coloration
of Barn Owls is light brown and white with the underbelly
being a white or blush color. The back of a Barn Owl’s
head is light brown with black and white spots. The face
of a Barn Owl is that of a rounded heart shape.

Habitat: Barn Owls can be found during the day residing in caves, tree holes, or man-made
structures like barns or sheds. Barn Owls are most often found in regions with grasslands,
deserts, and agricultural communities.

Interesting Observations: The call of the Barn Owl is a loud screeching noise. Male Barn
Owls have white underbellies whereas females would have a more blush coloring.

Interesting Facts: The Barn Owl has the best

hearing of any tested animal so far. Their great
hearing coupled with their ears being asymmetrical
(one ear is stationed higher than the other) allows
them to catch prey triangulating its location.
Furthermore, Barn Owls can lay up to eleven eggs
unlike other birds of prey who usually only lay
between two and three.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 7

Cactus Wren: Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Range: Cactus Wren can be found along
the United States-Mexico border and down
into Mexico.

Typical Size: The average length of a

Cactus Wren is between 7 and 8 inches.

Distinguishing/Key Features: The

Cactus Wren has a speckled patterning that
is often brown. They can be easily
identified by their facial markings which
include bright white rows of feathers above their red eyes. The sides of the Cactus Wren are a
light cinnamon and the underbelly is white with dark brown speckles. The back of the Cactus
Wren is dark brown with white streaks.

Habitat: Cactus Wren inhabit deserts, arid foothills, and coastal shrublands. They favor areas
with thorny shrubs, cholla, and prickly pear.

Interesting Observations: Cactus Wrens perch on top

of cacti without regard for the spines.

Interesting Facts: Cactus Wrens mate for life and they

live together their whole lives in a permanent territory
zone.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 8

Harris Hawk: Parabuteo unicinctus

Range: The Harris Hawk can be found around most
of the United States-Mexico border. They also are
found down south into Mexico and in dry habitats of
South America.

Typical Size: The Harris Hawk is an average of 18 to

24 inches in length with a 3 to 4 foot wingspan.

Distinguishing/Key Features: Harris Hawks are a

dark brown color and on their wings they have copper
colored shoulder patches. The tail of a Harris Hawk
has white feathers near the base and at the tip. The underside of Harris Hawk wings are also a
copper color.

Habitat: Harris Hawks are found in semiarid regions like the Sonoran Desert, canyons,
chaparrals (dry coastal regions), and shrublands.

Interesting Observations: Female Harris

Hawks are larger than males and they lead the
family group.

Interesting Facts: Harris Hawks are one of two

known species of raptor to hunt as a group. Each
group is led by a female Harris Hawk who is
followed by a few males that are either breeding
partners or young.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 9

Masked Bobwhite: Colinus virginianus ridgewayi

Range: Masked Bobwhites are native to southern
Arizona all the way to Sonora, Mexico.

Typical Size: Masked Bobwhites are an average of 8

½ to 10 ½ inches in length.

Distinguishing/Key Features: Masked Bobwhite

Males have a dark cinnamon colored breast with a
black feathered head and throat. Males also have crown
feathers that get darker as they age. Some Masked
Bobwhites have a white strip that travels down from the eye to the neck, along with white
patches on the head and throat. The remaining feathers on male Masked Bobwhites are mottled
and vary in black, brown, cinnamon and white. Female Masked Bobwhites have varying mottled
feathers in brown, black, white, and light cinnamon (especially near the throat).

Habitat: Masked Bobwhites live in savanna grasslands.

Interesting Observations: The Masked Bobwhite female I observed blended effortlessly in

with the ground cover which made her hard to detect even from a relatively short distance.

Interesting Facts: There are almost no wild Masked Bobwhites in the United States. The only
populations are captive bred.
 Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 10

Pacific Seahorse: Hippocampus ingens

Range: Pacific Seahorses can be found in the Eastern
Pacific Ocean between San Diego, California and Peru.

Typical Size: Adult Pacific Seahorses reach up to 14

inches in length.

Distinguishing/Key Features: Pacific Seahorses do

not have scales but instead have skin. They have body
rings from head to tail with 11 trunk rings and 39 tail
rings. Pacific Seahorses have a long snout, two dorsal
fins, and a “crown” atop their head. The Pacific Seahorse
can vary in coloration from green, reddish-maroon, gray,
yellow, differing shades of brown, goldish, and they can have white or dark markings.

Habitat: Pacific Seahorses can be found in subtidal areas

attached to gorgonians and black corals. Pacific Seahorses can
also be found in seagrass meadows, rocky reefs, mangroves,
coral reefs, sponges, sea kelp, and eelgrass.

Interesting Observations: When Pacific Seahorses swim

they appear to gracefully glide through the water.

Interesting Facts: Pacific Seahorses like other species of

seahorse do not have distinct stomachs or teeth. Unlike many
other fish Pacific Seahorses do not have scales but instead they
have skin. Pacific Seahorses also swim upright which is different
from most other fish species. Another interesting fact is like
other species of seahorse, the male Pacific Seahorse is the one to
carry and birth the young.