Eastern Screech Owl
Otus asio
Identification
- The only small eastern owl to have ear tufts, they also have yellow eyes and a light coloured bill
- Pale face edged in black, white spots on the wings
- They have two colour phases which vary in proportion geographically, and not based on age, gender, or season. They can be red-brown or grey; the greys are common in Ontario since the Red-brown morph birds are less adapted to cold and are more common to the US.
- stirctly nocturnal, during the day it roosts in a tree cavity so they are barely seen roosting during the day
- Male and Female look alike and are distinguished by their voice, the juvenile bird also resembles the adult but is not streaked
- most common, or only, avian predator who hunts in wooded urban habitats
- They fly fairly rapidly with a steady wing beat
Length: 16-25cm
Wingspan: 48-61cm
Weight: 4.3-8.6oz (121-244g)
Habitat
The Eastern Screech like to live in any wooded areas, including open deciduous woods, wood lots, suburban areas, lakeshores, and old orchards although they prefer mature deciduous forests. The Screech Owl can also be found roosting in barns and other old structures.
Food
The Screech Owl will prey on almost any invertebrate or small vertebrate, preying heavily on birds and small mammals although they will make due eating insects, earthworms, snakes and snails, catching insects midair. The Screech has no trouble taking prey as large as rats and Ruffed Grouse. They are very talented anglers being able to dive into streams to catch crayfish.
They hunt from dusk till dawn, with much of their hunting being done during the first four hours after sunset. They hunt by waiting on perches and then swooping down to catch their prey, often waiting in areas along the edges of open fields or wetlands.
Their Natural Predators are the Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Lond-eared Owl, Great Grey Owl, Short-eared Owl, Snowy Owl, minks, weasels, raccoons, skunks, snakes, crows, and blue jays
They hunt from dusk till dawn, with much of their hunting being done during the first four hours after sunset. They hunt by waiting on perches and then swooping down to catch their prey, often waiting in areas along the edges of open fields or wetlands.
Their Natural Predators are the Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Lond-eared Owl, Great Grey Owl, Short-eared Owl, Snowy Owl, minks, weasels, raccoons, skunks, snakes, crows, and blue jays
Nesting
Courtship:
The Screech Owl has an elaborate courtship ritual starting witht he males approaching the females and calling to them until they get closer. The male bobs and swivels its head and slowly winks one eye. They continue this ritual more and more intensly until the females responds by moving closer and touching bills.
Nesting:
They nest during the months of March, April and May and can be easily found during these times since they will call back to immitated calls. They place their nests in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or Wood Duck boxes. They do not line the base of their nests before laying 3-8 white eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 26 days. The young leave the nest 4 weeks after hatching who will disperse in the autumn together while the parents stay at the nesting site.
The Screech Owl has an elaborate courtship ritual starting witht he males approaching the females and calling to them until they get closer. The male bobs and swivels its head and slowly winks one eye. They continue this ritual more and more intensly until the females responds by moving closer and touching bills.
Nesting:
They nest during the months of March, April and May and can be easily found during these times since they will call back to immitated calls. They place their nests in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or Wood Duck boxes. They do not line the base of their nests before laying 3-8 white eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 26 days. The young leave the nest 4 weeks after hatching who will disperse in the autumn together while the parents stay at the nesting site.
Calls
The Screech Owl mainly calls during the night, and during mating season. They make a long, monotonous rolled whistle or trill as well as a quavering and dropping whinny. The Screech Owl is known for being able and willing to respond to imitations of its call.
To hear the Screech Owl, click HERE!
To hear the Screech Owl, click HERE!
Range/Distribution
The Screech Owl is a resident of North America south of the Canadian Shield and is not a migratory bird. It lives from Manitoba, Ontario and New England south to Texas and Florida.
View Distribution Map
View Observations Map
View Distribution Map
View Observations Map
Conservation
Although the range of the Eastern Screech has actually expanded over recent times, its numbers may have declined as the mature deciduous forests of Southern Ontario continue to be cleared for agricultural and settlement purposes. The Screech Owl seems to have an amazing ability to adapting to the life in urban and suburban habitats, and as a result their numbers have not declined too much.
The Juvenile birds have a mortality rate of 70%, while adult mortality 30%.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
The Juvenile birds have a mortality rate of 70%, while adult mortality 30%.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
Interesting Facts
- The screech often responds readily to imitations of its own call
- they are fearless in the defense of their nests and will often strike an unsuspecting human on the head in passing
- pairs will stay together for life, although some males will mate with more than one female at a time
Want to Know More?
Check Out:
It's Nature
http://www.itsnature.org/air/birds-air/screech-owl/
Talk About Wildlife
http://talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/index.php?s=1589
Birds Studies Canada Fact Sheet
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/escreechowlsheet.pdf
It's Nature
http://www.itsnature.org/air/birds-air/screech-owl/
Talk About Wildlife
http://talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/index.php?s=1589
Birds Studies Canada Fact Sheet
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/escreechowlsheet.pdf