To be, or not to be a Harlan's

[Eagle Owl]

Brandi, et.al.,

True the ornithologists speak of 14 subspecies of RT's, but here is the catch, in order for them to be a subspecies they have to be a genetically distinct geographical subunit of the species; and, of course, none of them are, not even the Harlan's. Genetically, all the RT subspecies (races) are the same. It is my understanding that ornithologists use these "subspecies" as a matter of convenience more than anything else. So, what does all of this mean? Well, IMO, it means that these different "subspecies" are simply different colorations of the same animal.

Bill Boni
Norman, OK

Bill, I completely agree.