Typical Owls

Eastern Screech-Owl, Megascops asio

Family Strigidae (Typical Owls)

Size: 8.5"

Season: Year-round

Habitat: Wooded areas or parks, places where cavity-bearing trees exist

The eastern screech-owl is a small, big-headed, eared owl with a short tail and bright-yellow eyes. The highly camouflaged plumage ranges from reddish to brown to gray, depending on the region, but the red form is most common in the East. It is darker above and streaked and barred below. The ear tufts may be drawn back to give a rounded-head appearance, and the bill is grayish green tipped with white. White spots on the margins of the coverts and scapulars create two white bars on the folded wing. It is a nocturnal bird, hunting during the night for small mammals, insects, or fish. Its voice is a descending whistling call or a rapid staccato of one pitch. The red morph adult is illustrated.