Eastern Screech Owl

More Information

Eastern screech owls are a mix of white, gray, and reddish-brown—coloration that helps them blend into the branches and trees. These predators can reach up to nine inches tall with a wingspan of nearly two feet. Females are slightly larger than males. They prey on a wide variety of insects and small animals, including mice, snakes, lizards, salamanders, and small birds. Females lay eggs in tree cavities, hollows, and even abandoned woodpecker holes, and breeding pairs often return to the same nest year after year.

Did You Know?

Eastern screech owls don’t build a nest. Instead, females lay their eggs directly on the layer of fur and feathers left over from their previous meals, which lines the bottom of their den.

Their serrated flying feathers help muffle the sound of their flapping wings, enabling them to sneak up on their prey.

Their yellow eyes are so large that they can’t move in their sockets. In order to look around, they have to turn their neck, which can rotate up to 270 degrees in either direction.