Eastern Screech Owls are found
east of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic. The species ranges
from the Canadian boreal forests south to Mexico. They live in
all forest types and prefer woodlands that are interspersed with
the open clearings, meadows, and fields necessary for hunting.
They also inhabit wetlands, orchards, suburban parks and gardens
and towns. Western Screech Owls range all along the western coast
of the continent from Canada south to the Baja peninsula and into
Mexico, and they are found as far east as the western border of
Texas. They usually live at lower elevations and prefer open oak
and riparian woodlands and seasonally wet areas. They also
inhabit streamside groves, deserts, suburban parks, and gardens.
Nests are typically found in natural cavities, abandoned
woodpecker holes, and hollow stumps and limbs. The western
species also nests in saguaro cactus cavities and abandoned
magpie nests. Both species use nest boxes, and field studies show
that boxes are selected as often as natural cavities for nest
sites. Our Screech Owl House provides a perfect cavity, complete
with wood chips for nesting material. Optional Slate Squirrel
Guard available to provide extra protection from squirrels that
like to enlarge the entrance hole and occupy a bird house. The
Screech Owl House should be mounted under a tree limb 10 to 30
feet high facing north. Two to three inches of wood shavings
should be added for nesting material. |
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| The Eastern and Western Screech Owls closely resemble each other, and in the past, the two species were classified as one. They are the most diverse in plumage color of all the North American owls, and variation in color is related to region. The Eastern Screech Owl has two color morphs, rufous and gray; rufous individuals live mainly in the south and gray individuals in the north. The breast and belly are heavily streaked and spotted with black. The Western Screech Owl has only one color morph, gray, but individuals found along the northwest coast can be brownish. As with its eastern counterpart, the belly and breast of the western species are marked with blackish streaks and bars. In both species, males and females look alike. They are approximately eight inches tall, with yellow eyes. They have ear tufts, which are conspicuous when raised. The two species can be differentiated by bill color and vocalization: Eastern Screech Owls have a pale bill and make a descending trill or whinny vocalization. Western Screech Owls have a dark bill and make a series of hollow whistles on one pitch, running into a tremolo, with the rhythm of a small ball bouncing to a standstill. Eastern Screech Owls are found east of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic. The species ranges from the Canadian boreal forests south to Mexico. They live in all forest types and prefer woodlands that are interspersed with the open clearings, meadows, and fields necessary for hunting. They also inhabit wetlands, orchards, suburban parks and gardens and towns. Western Screech Owls range all along the western coast of the continent from Canada south to the Baja peninsula and into Mexico, and they are found as far east as the western border of Texas. They usually live at lower elevations and prefer open oak and riparian woodlands and seasonally wet areas. They also inhabit streamside groves, deserts, suburban parks, and gardens. Eastern and Western Screech Owls both compete with other species for nest sites, and their cavities are often usurped by fox squirrels, European Starlings and Northern Flickers. |
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