Megascops asio
The Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops asio, is a small, compact owl of eastern North America, renowned for its excellent camouflage and distinctive vocalizations. Averaging 16-25 cm (6.3-9.8 in) in length with a wingspan of 48-61 cm (19-24 in) and weighing 121-244 g (4.3-8.6 oz), it exhibits two primary color morphs: a cryptic gray and a rusty reddish-brown, both featuring intricate streaking and barring that blend seamlessly with tree bark. Key field marks include prominent ear tufts, bright ye...
Found in deciduous or mixed forests, riparian woodlands, urban and suburban parks, and orchards, typically at low to moderate elevations.
A opportunistic generalist predator, primarily consuming large insects, small mammals (rodents, shrews), small birds, amphibians, and reptiles; hunts from a perch, swooping down to capture prey.
Strictly nocturnal, Eastern Screech Owls spend their days roosting camouflaged in tree cavities or dense foliage, occasionally becoming crepuscular. They are primarily 'sit-and-wait' predators, pouncing from a low perch onto unsuspecting prey. Highly territorial, especially during the breeding se...
The Eastern Screech Owl's geographic range spans broadly across eastern North America, from the southeastern parts of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick) south through the entire eastern United States, extending west to the edge of the Great Plains and south into northeastern Mexico. This spe...
Least Concern
- Eastern Screech Owls exhibit two distinct color morphs-gray and reddish-brown (rufous)-which can occur within the same brood and are not geographically determined. - Despite their small size, they are formidable predators, occasionally taking prey larger than themselves, including other birds. ...