Animal Information

Eastern Screech Owl

Otus asio  naevius

Eastern Screech Owl

Range

Eastern screeches are distributed from southeastern Saskatchewan east along the Canadian border to New England, south along the east coast to Florida and along the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains to central Texas and eastern Mexico. Winters southward sometimes to Alabama and Georgia.

Habitat

open woodlands, forest clearings, old orchards, and parks

Distinguishing Characteristics

Screech owls have tufts of feathers on the head which causes them to be referred to as “horned” or “eared” owls. The screech owl is the smallest “eared” owl east of the Rocky Mountains, and next to the saw-whet owl, is the smallest of all eastern owls.

Dietary Classification

Diet in the Zoo: Rodents and sometimes chicks

Diet in the Wild: Small vertebrates

Life Span

15 plus years

Behavior/Adaptations

* Screech owls exist in two color phases: red and gray.
* Eastern screech owls mate for life and often return to the same nesting site.

Status

Vulnerable to injury and fatality from ingesting pesticides. All owls are protected by state and federal law- and all are protected under the migratory bird act.

Classification

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Animalia Chordata Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Otus asio