Eastern Screech Owl

Megascops Asio

Status: Least Concerned.

Size: Up to 9.8 inches.

Habitat: Farmland, suburban landscapes, great plains and areas on the Eastern United States with plenty of tree coverage.

At the Zoo: Ranch House Area near Coati Exhibit.

The Eastern Screech Owl is a common hardy owl that is found in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It likes to spend its days hiding and sleeping in trees while hunting throughout the night looking for a large spectrum of prey. They often dive down from trees onto their prey and after consuming what they catch will regurgitate  undigested parts (pellets) such as hair or bones onto the ground.   The usual color of Eastern Screech Owls is grey and white with about a third of the population colored red.

If you find yourself in the eastern United States an easy way to find Eastern Screech Owls is to go out in the evening or early morning and look for songbirds alerting in a disturbed pattern in response to owls nearby. They are a little more difficult to find during the day, but can be found in crevices and holes in trees where they sleep.

While nesting Eastern Screech Owls become very territorial. The males during this time will do a majority of the hunting bringing the females food while they guard up to 7 eggs. After the eggs hatch the new owlets depend upon their parents for another 7-10 weeks.

Credits:

Text compiled by Jacob Croft, Zoo Volunteer

Eastern Screech-Owl Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/overview.

Top Photo Steven Kersting, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom Photo Dick Daniels from http://carolinabirds.org/
Middle photo and cover Photo Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren