Screech Owl

March 20, 2026

Common though out the United States except in extreme northern New England and extreme upper mid west, Screech Owl make their home in tree cavities or in manmade nest boxes. The inside of their nest are not lined but have woodchips or sawdust at the bottom. Screech Owls are year round resident and can be found in both deciduous woodlands and suburban areas and yet there presence is rarely noticed.

There are two colored Screech Owls , one being a gray morph, this is the most common, possibly because they are more tolerant to colder winters. Then there is the red morph, being the less common of the two owls. It has been known for both the red and gray to breed and have offspring that are somewhat intermediate in color.

Screech Owls have been known to make daylight appearances, this is met with at times squawking chickadees or Blue Jays alerting others that a Screech Owl is in the area. Screech Owls have been seen attacked by smaller birds possibly after a family member has been killed by a Screech Owl.

Locating a Screech Owl can be done by listening for the male’s eerie spooky courtship calls, this horse whinny call, chuckles or hoots is loud and cuts through the night air. Also Screech Owls are known for their distinct ear tufts.

Screech Owls feed at dusk and at night, sitting on a low perch, they feast on small mammals, earthworms, fish, birds and insect, this also includes moths that are in flight.

Screech Owls produce 3 to 6 creamy white eggs, during the 26 days of incubation the male feeds the female as she tends to the eggs.

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