Eastern Screech-Owl
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Common Name:
Eastern Screech-Owl
Class: Aves
Order:
Strigiformes
Family:
Strigidae
Genus:
Megascops
Species:
Megascops
asio
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Taxonomy/Description
Eastern Screech-Owls are
in the order Strigiformes and family Strigidae which
groups them together with "true" owls. They are a small
(8.5 inches, 22 cm), nocturnal predatory bird. They have
yellow eyes, large round head and a pale bill with ear
tufts that can be more prominent if raised. Their
underparts are marked with bars and streaks. Their
plumage color changes from a red rusty color, to gray and brown.
It is important to note that the Eastern Screech Owl is
the only owl species where some individuals contian red
colored plumage.
Habitat/Diet
Eastern Screech-Owls are found year
round east of the Rocky Mountains, as far north as the Canadian
border and as far south as Florida and northern Mexico. Eastern
Screech-Owls has the most diverse habitats of North American owls. They prefer
habitats of tree-dominated areas of that are naturally and
culturally altered, mature to early successional forests and
habitats in mountain slopes
to river valleys.
The diet of Eastern Screech-Owls
consists primarily of invertebrates, crayfish and earthworms as well
as all classes of vertebrates including
passerines and rodents. Eastern Screech-Owls hunt by swooping which
means they snatch up prey from the ground in their talons after they
have a gliding descent from a perch with their wings spread.
Behavior/Reproduction
Eastern Screech-Owls hunt
prey at night and because of this have adapted hearing
that allows them to better sense their prey.
Asymmetrical ears helps to pinpoint a sound with an
accuracy of 1.5
degrees in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Owls
also have the ability to be silent hunters because of
the serrated feathers on the first primary feather
on each wing.
Eastern Screech-Owls have a
monogamous mating system and have one brood per year. Their
courtship behavior occurs on a perch where the male bows and raises
his wings then snaps his bill and blinks at the female. He then
approaches her and brings her food. He lays the food before her and
then hops and bows in front of it. An established pair will preen
each other and have duets. Eastern Screech-Owls nest in tree
cavities or hollow stumps. The female lays 4-5 white eggs and incubates
them with some help from the male for the 26 day period. Young are
born semialtricial which means they are immobile, downy, blind and
need to be fed. Both parents will care for the young until they
fledge which occurs 27 days after hatching.
Where to see them in WNY
The Eastern Screech-Owl is found through
out WNY all year round but is most commonly seen in Allegany State park
Grand Island and Iroquois NWR.
