SCREECH OWL
Megascops Asio
The Eastern Screech Owl of Southern Ontario is restricted to the Americas and is not found elsewhere.
As with many other owls, the female is larger than the male and the Eastern Screech Owl is also one of the smaller species in North America.
These birds are small and agile and are usually found in shades of brown with the undersides being of a white pattern, however, they are sometimes found in shades of gray and reddish-brown.
These small, nocturnal birds hunt from perches, often an old tree, using their excellent hearing to locate their victims, usually in open woodland.
From there they swoop down onto their prey, such as mice, squirrels, chipmunks, bats, insects, reptiles and small birds and usually return to their nest to dine.
These birds are usually solitary except during the winter breeding season.
When trying to attract a mate, the male will select a tree cavity and try to attract a female to it, whilst going through a mating ritual.
During the mating ritual he will approach a female, getting close to her and then bobbing and swiveling his body whilst winking at his intended - if she ignores him, he intensifies his display, but if she accepts him, they begin preening each other.
The lucky female will have selected her mate based, we think, on the beauty of the males display, the quality of the tree cavity and the food provided for her!
Once mated, the pair are monogamous and lay between 3 and 5 eggs, which take about 26 days, with both parents taking care of the young owlets which are fledged in around 31 days.
Pairs often mate for life, but if one partner dies or disappears the other will accept a new mate.
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What Other Visitors Have Said
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City Beauty 
There has been the sweetest Screech Owl perched on the evergreen just outside our breakfast room.
We live in downtown Toronto so it is amazing that …
Eastern Screech Owl Sighting
At least we believe it to be an Easter Screech!
He was found in our Christmas wreath hanging on our garage light.
My 9 year old daughter who …
Not sure what type of Owl maybe Screech Owl
For the last two nights a small Owl has been banging into our back window of our house.
Tonight we got a picture of him.
Thank you for sending …
Little Owl Taken up residence in our wood duck nest box
A little Owl – Short Eared Owl or Screech Owl, has taken up residence in the wood duck box we put up on a tree the other side of our pond.
He has been …
Western Screech Owl? Not rated yet
This little Owl flew into our sliding door in our kitchen last night.
We put him in a box and let him warm up and regain consciousness.
After …
Our new resident Not rated yet
My daughters and I love watching this little guy from our kitchen window.
How cute!
Does he spend the day-time there and hunt at night? How long …
Eastern Screech Owl Not rated yet
We found this little guy in our neighbour's woodshed today, just outside Erin, Ontario.
Thank you for sending this great picture - I know our readers …
Screech Owl in Fergus Not rated yet
Hello!
We saw this little guy at the side of our home.
First Owl sighting for both me and my husband so we were rather excited when it didn't spook …
Screech Owl at my high school! Not rated yet
So today at my high school in Windsor, Ontario, there was an Eastern Screech Owl in the courtyard!
Everybody was excited to watch this rare encounter …
The Owl Pages - Screech Owl
Lots of lovely info about this little owl
The pictures on this page are courtesy of Dreamstime
© Outdoorsman | Dreamstime.com
© Claudine Besse | Dreamstime.com
