EASTERN SCREECH OWL

Common Names: Common screech owl, gray owl, little cat owl, little gray owl, little horned owl, mottled owl, red owl, shivering owl, whickering owl, ghost owl, dusk owl, spirit owl, mouse owl.

Order: Strigiformes

Family: Strigidae (typical owls)

Subfamily: Striginae

Latin Name: Megascops asio, formerly known as Otus asio (from Latin meaning “a kind of horned owl”)

Habitat and Range: Open deciduous woods, wood lots, suburban areas, lakeshores, old orchards; southeastern Saskatchewan, east along the Canadian border to New England, along the east coast to Florida, along the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains to central Texas and eastern Mexico. They are never found far from trees.

Description: Small, mottled owl with large rounded head and prominent ear tufts; yellow eyes. Two color phases occur: gray and rufus, as well as brownish intermediates.

Adult Size): 7-10” long, wingspan 18-24”; considerable variation in wt.: males 3-6+ ounces., females 3-7 + ounces. It is the smallest owl with ear tufts in the eastern United States.

Diet in the Wild: Largely mice, shrews, and all types of insects. It will take songbirds, other small mammals (including bats), amphibians, small fish (wading right into shallow water to capture them), other arthropods (spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and crayfish), snails, earthworms, and reptiles. In spite of their small size, screech owls are exceptional hunters. They occasionally take ruffed grouse and large rats. Insects are caught in the beak in midair; other prey items are captured with the talons. They have been known to fish through holes in ice that were left by other animals.

Reproduction: Three to eight (avg. four to five) white eggs, February-July (specific times vary within its range), laid in sawdust found in natural cavities, hollow stumps, abandoned nesting holes (mostly of flickers and other woodpeckers), nest boxes. Male provides food while female incubates the eggs and broods the young.

Life Span: One very dated reference reports that one banded screech owl lived to be 14 years old in the wild. Captive owls have been known to live over 20 years.

Perils: Larger birds of prey (especially larger owls), mink, weasels, raccoons, skunks, snakes, crows; habitat loss (including loss of nesting sites); humans. Owlets parasitized by insects found in their nests.

7/07 Protection: Cryptic coloration mimics tree bark perfectly, which helps to camouflage the bird, while it sits very quietly, pulling in feathers and stretching body to resemble tree branch. Screech owls roost, nest and feed inside tree cavities, old woodpecker holes and bird boxes, which provide protection from larger nocturnal and diurnal birds of prey. Parents are fierce defenders of their young and will attack intruders.

Voice: The screech owl rarely screeches (except when it defends its young). It has an extraordinary variety of courtship, territorial, and defense calls that include a descending whinny, pleasant trills and purrs, and quavering or bark-like whistles. Many of its regional names refer to the sounds it makes.

Interesting Facts: Screech or Scops owls comprise the largest genus (Otus) of the Strigidae family. Otus asio is found only in North America and is our commonest owl. It is the only small owl in eastern United States with tufts. Two color phases are common; rufus and gray with brownish intermediary colors. The two phases vary in proportion geographically but are not related to age, sex or season. Both colors may appear in the same clutch. In the northern parts of their range, screech owls more often are gray while their southern cousins tend to be more rufus. The western screech owl (Otus kennicottii) is virtually identical to the eastern, but may be slightly larger, tends to appear primarily in the gray to gray-brown phase and has a different call. At one time these birds were thought to be the same species, but current classification separates them.

Screech owls are extremely nocturnal. However they often may be found sitting at the entrance to their roosting cavities, sunning themselves. These diminutive predators also are fond of bathing and sometimes may be observed availing themselves of backyard bird baths. Incubation and brooding are done by the female. The male gives the food to the female who tears it apart and places it into the mouths of the nestlings. Young screech owls that have not yet learned to fly well are able to climb back into the nesting hole, if necessary.

Virtually every wild bird is parasitized by a variet y o f lice and ticks. However many birds have developed ways to protect themselves and their offspring. The screech owl’s nest often is a very unclean place with left over prey, pellets, and feces, which is an invitation to insect larvae. Screech owls in some parts of their range sometimes carry live blind snakes back to the nest. These reptiles tend to live under the debris, where they eat insect larvae. Studies have shown that owlets from nests containing snakes tend to grow faster and to have lower mortality rates.

Folklore: There are volumes of folklore regarding owls. Throughout history these silent creatures of the night have been both revered and worshipped or feared. They have been perceived by different cultures at different times both as good and as bad omens. Here are a few examples of superstitions and folklore associated with owls: Owl meat was once considered an aphrodisiac. Owl marrow was mixed with oil of violets to make nose drops which were supposed to cure migraines. Plumbago herb was mixed with “burnt owl’s feet” to treat snakebite. Soup made from owls’ eggs was used for a variety of ailments including head lice, insomnia, and whooping cough. Another belief that has recurred over time is that if you place an owl, or part of an owl, on top of a sleeping person, that individual will be compelled to answer whatever questions you ask, thus, his/her secrets will be revealed.

Ecology: Screech Owls are benign, rarely causing problems for humans. They consume insects and rodents and other live prey, helping to control the prey population. The kestrel (a diurnal bird of prey) shares the same niche with the screech owl and has many characteristics in common.

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Diet at the Zoo: Mice.

Primary References:

De La Torre, Julio. Owl s: Their Life and Behavior. New York: Crown Publishers, 1990.

Page, Jake and Eugene Morton,. Lords of the Air: The Smithsonian Book of Birds. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books, 1989.

Perrins, Christopher and Alex L.A. Middleton, Eds. The Encyclopedia of Birds. Ne w York: Facts on File Publications, 1985.

Terres, John K . The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1980.

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