Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asioDescription
The Eastern Screech-Owl is a small, nocturnal woodland owl with feathered ear tufts. Its song is a distinctive trill and descending whinny that does not sound like the typical hooting of an owl. This owl has two color morphs, reddish-brown and gray. In Tennessee, the red morph outnumbers the gray by almost two to one. No other North American owl has such distinctive plumage differences. The toes are feathered, the eyes are yellow, and the bill is greenish. Male and female plumage is similar, the female is larger, but the male's voice is lower-pitched.
The Eastern Screech-Owl is non-migratory and occurs east of the Rocky Mountains from the Canadian border to northeastern Mexico. It is found in urban as well as rural areas and readily nests in nest boxes. Like most owls, it is more often heard than seen.
Length: 8.5" (height)
Wingspan: 20"
Weight: 6 oz
Voice: Eastern Screech-Owls give both a trill on one note, lasting up to 3 seconds, and a descending, wavering whinny-like song. These songs are usually uttered separately.
Similar Species: The Northern Saw-whet Owl is smaller, with a black bill and white streaking on a light brown crown. This owl nests locally in east Tennessee, and (nocturnally) migrates across the state, although rarely detected.
Habitat: Found in most habitats with trees, including urban and suburban areas. Prefers deciduous to coniferous forest and riparian woodlands.
Diet: Insects, crayfish, earthworms, songbirds, rodents.
Nesting and reproduction: Egg laying peaks in late March and early April.
Clutch Size: Usually 3 to 4 eggs, ranging from 2 to 6.
Incubation: The female does most of the incubating, which lasts 26 days.
Fledging: Both adults feed the young. They leave the nest at about 31 days and are dependent on the parents for up to 3 more months.
Nest: Nests and roosts in cavities that are either natural, excavated by a woodpecker, or human-made nest boxes, including Wood Duck boxes. They add no nesting material to the nest cavity.
Status in Tennessee: The Eastern Screech-Owl is the most numerous owl in the state.
Best places to see in Tennessee: Like most owls, they are rarely seen, it is found at lower elevations and are considered fairly common throughout the state, mostly in second-growth forest.
Fun Facts
- Eastern Screech-Owls are usually monogamous, and pairs remain together for life. On occasion, males will mate with a second female, who may evict the first female, add her own eggs in the clutch, and incubate both sets of eggs.
- The trill and descending whinny-like song of the Eastern Screech-Owl is sometimes used for ambience in television and movie night scenes. The whinny is used in territory defense, and the songs are usually uttered separately.
- Even though Eastern Screech-Owls are known to eat European Starlings, starlings regularly evict screech-owls from their cavities and nest there themselves.
- Obsolete English Names: common screech-owl, mottled owl.
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