Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)

Small but fierce, the eastern screech-owl may be living in your backyard without you knowing it.

Appearance. At about 9 inches long, with a 20-inch wingspan, the eastern screech-owl is Minnesota’s second smallest owl. (Only the northern saw-whet owl is smaller.) It is the smallest of Minnesota owls that have “horns”—tufts of feathers—on their heads. Screech-owls are usually rufous (reddish-brown) or gray in color, though brown individuals are sometimes observed. Whether rufous, gray, or brown, the base color is more solid on the owl’s upperparts, with finer barring below.

Sounds. This owl’s most common calls are a descending “whinny” and a monotonous trill on a single pitch. Male and female screech-owls make both types of calls as well as a variety of other sounds.

Behavior. Like most owls, screech-owls are highly nocturnal and more often heard than seen. They nest in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, and sometimes nest boxes. Typically, screech-owls lay 4–5 eggs, which are incubated by the female. Once the young hatch, the female broods them (keeps them warm) while the male brings food to the family. The young leave the nest cavity in about a month, but the adults continue to care for them for another month or two. Adult screech-owls can be aggressive toward intruders, including humans, when protecting their young. Screech-owls eat a wide variety of animals, including small mammals, insects, small birds, amphibians, crayfish, and even small fish. Like other owls, they regurgitate pellets of undigestible bones and fur of their prey. Screech-owls may be preyed upon by larger owls, so they may avoid areas close to where great-horned owls and barred owls nest. During the day, screech-owls roost in a cavity or on a tree branch near the trunk. Their coloration and barred pattern serve as camouflage, making them difficult to see. In winter, screech-owls are sometimes seen sunning themselves at the entrance to a cavity or nest box.

Distribution and Habitat. Eastern screech-owls are a permanent resident east of the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. In Minnesota, they are more common in the south and uncommon to rare in the north. They prefer semi-open forests and woodlots, including urban and suburban yards, and parks, if suitable large trees with nest holes are present. They are rare or absent in the conifer-dominated forests in northeastern and north-central Minnesota. Elsewhere in their North American range, screech-owls are thought to be common and widespread. However, we do not know if this is true in Minnesota. They are widely reported, particularly in the Twin Cities area, but it’s not known if their population is stable, decreasing, or increasing.