Scientific Name:   Megascops asio

Length:   6.3-9.8 in (16-25 cm)

Weight:   4.3-8.6 oz (121-244 g)

Wingspan:   18.9-24.0 in (48-61 cm)

Nest:   The nest is in a cavity in trees, including natural hollows and abandoned woodpecker holes; will also use artificial nest boxes. Usually 10-30' above ground, can be 5-80' up.

Eggs:   4-5, sometimes 2-8. White. Incubation is mostly by female, averages about 26 days. Male brings food to female during incubation.

Feeding Behavior:   Eastern screech owls are strictly nocturnal, roosting during the day in cavities or next to tree trunks and are opportunistic hunters. They hunt from dusk to dawn, with most hunting being done during the first four hours of darkness. A combination of sharp hearing and vision is used for prey location. When prey is spotted, the owl dives quickly and seizes it in its talons. Small prey usually is swallowed whole on the spot, while larger prey is carried in the bill to a perch and then torn into pieces.

Young:   Both parents bring food for young. Adults may bring back small, wormlike Blind Snakes and release them in nest, where the snakes burrow in debris in bottom of cavity, feeding on insects there, perhaps helping protect the young from parasites. Young leave the nest about 4 weeks after hatching, are fed by parents for some time thereafter.

Range:   Eastern screech owls inhabit open mixed woodlands, deciduous forests, parklands, wooded suburban areas, riparian woods along streams and wetlands, mature orchards, and woodlands near marshes, meadows, and fields. A permanent resident throughout its range. Especially in north, may wander somewhat in fall and winter.

Brief Description:   They have either rusty or dark gray intricately patterned plumage with streaking on the underparts. Midsized by screech-owl standards, these birds are stocky, short-tailed and broad-winged as is typical of the genus. They have a large, round head with prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a yellowish beak. The feet are relatively large and powerful compared to more southern screech owls and are typically feathered down to the toes.