Eastern Screech Owl: Megascops asio
In the Wild
Description:
 Size: Average about 8 inches in length (small)
o Wingspan of about 22 inches
o Females are generally slightly larger than males
 Weight: 7-7.3 oz.
 Coloration:
o Come in two distinct colors – gray and rufous (reddish-brown)
o Yellow beak and eyes
o Bold streaking on their breast
 Relatively large feet with feathered toes
 Large round head with “ear tufts” on either side
Habitat and Range:
 Native to North America
o Distributed widely across southern Canada, the eastern United States, and into
northern Mexico
o Vagrant population in Bermuda
 Open deciduous woods, woodlots, suburban areas, lakeshores, old orchards
o Have broadest ecological niche of any North American owl
 Sit and nest in tree cavities
Diet:
 Carnivore: Eat insects, frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, small birds and rodents
 Opportunistic feeders who sit and wait for prey in low-lying branches
 Regurgitates small pellets of indigestible prey parts including bones, feathers and fur
Adaptations:
 Acute sense of hearing and vision which allow them to hunt in low light
 Are not migratory and may reuse successful nest sites from year to year
 Have 14 vertebrae in neck (mammals only have 7 vertebrae) which allow them to turn
their head roughly 270 degrees (about ¾ around)
 Will defend nest sites by swooping at potential threats including humans
 Song is an eerie trembling wail and a soft trill (unique to Screech Owls)
 Well camouflaged in tree habitat and when threatened will press its wings close to its
body and sit completely still to resemble a part of the tree
Lifespan:
 In the wild: 8-10 years
 Captivity: Up to 20 years
Ecosystem relationships:
 Are often the most abundant small predator in urban and suburban forested areas
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Eastern Screech Owl: Megascops asio
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Predators: Larger owls, hawks, black rat snakes, Virginia opossums, raccoons and
ringtails
o Owls will use alarm calls and physically attack predators that approach nestlings
Owls are important in controlling local pest populations, particularly rodents
Reproduction:
 Court and breed in late winter and early spring
 Males perform unique courtship “dances” to attract mates
o Once paired they are typically monogamous and mate for life with similarly aged
individuals
 Nesting occurs in tree hollows or cavities and 3-8 eggs are placed without a nest lining in
the cavity
 Eggs are incubated for about a month and chicks hatch covered in a white down and
with their eyes sealed shut
 Females “brood” (care for and keep warm) the eggs while the males hunt for food
o Female will tear up food for the chicks to digest
 Chicks fledge (leave the nest and start to fly) after about a month but continue to be
dependent on their parents for food for another 5-6 weeks
Activity:
 Nocturnal
Conservation Status and Threats:
 IUCN Least concern
 Habitat loss due to deforestation
 Population numbers are currently increasing and current population numbers are fairly
large. However, it is important to preserve their populations because they are important
for controlling rodent populations.
At the Zoo
Beaker is non-releasable due to wing and eye injuries resulting from being hit by a car. He was
born in 1998 or 1999, and came to the zoo in 1999. He weighs about 180 grams.
Pellet was found with puncture wounds on his head and became imprinted during rehab,
making him non-releasable. He was born in 1998 or 1999, and came to the zoo in 1999. He
weighs about 140 grams.
What We Can Do
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Screech owls are fairly accepting of nest boxes for nesting sites so providing a nest box
for local owls could help reduce threat due to deforestation
Screech owls can be found in agricultural and suburban areas so be aware of their
existence and try not to disturb any owls living around your home/neighborhood. They
are not aggressive and can keep rodent populations in check.
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Eastern Screech Owl: Megascops asio
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Birds of prey are sometimes hit and injured or killed by passing cars. This may be due in
part to mice lingering along roads, eating litter such as apple cores or crumbs from
wrappers. We can prevent litter by throwing our trash in trashcans rather than on the
side of the road.
References:
 http://www.marylandzoo.org/animals-conservation/birds/eastern-screech-owl-2/
 http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/species_a_to_z/SpeciesGuideIndex/easternscreec
howl/tabid/6856/Default.aspx
 http://www.audubonbirds.org/species/Birds/Eastern-Screech-Owl.html
 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Otus_asio.html
 http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3730id.html
 http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106002193/0
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