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Western Screech-Owl

Megascops kennicottiiOrder: STRIGIFORMESFamily: True Owls (Strigidae)
Western Screech-Owl (northwest coast kennicotti) Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked
  • Eye Color: Lemon yellow.
  • Head Pattern: Eyeline, Crested or plumed, Streaked, Spotted, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown Color: Gray with dark brown striping.
  • Forehead Color: Gray with dark brown striping. Palely mottled facial disk with dark border.
  • Nape Color: Gray with dark brown mottling.
  • Throat Color: Dark rim with central pale, mottled brown patch.
  • Cere color: Gray
Western Screech-Owl (northwest coast kennicotti) Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 18-25 cm (7-10 in)
  • Weight: 153 g (5.4 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: Brown, Black, Gray, Rufous or Rust
  • Underparts: Pale gray with gray to brown streaking.
  • Upperparts: Gray with gray to brown streaking.
  • Back Pattern: Striped or streaked
  • Belly Pattern: Striped or streaked, Mottled
  • Breast Pattern: Striped or streaked, Mottled
Western Screech-Owl (northwest coast kennicotti) Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Silent wing beats., Bouyant flight.
  • Wingspan Range: 51 cm (20 in)
  • Wing Shape: Broad-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Brown overall with faint spotting.
  • Upper Tail: Gray with dark streaking and barring.
  • Under Tail: White with gray wash. with brown streaking and barring.
  • Leg Color: Feathered in buff-white.
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Family True Owl (Strigidae)_blue
Species Megascops kennicottii
Length7 - 10 Inches
Wingspan20 Inches

Western Screech-Owl

Western Screech-Owl: Small owl (kennicotti), distinct ear tufts, brown- or gray-mottled upperparts, white shoulder spots, streaked, barred underparts. Lightly mottled facial disk, has prominent dark rim. Yellow eyes, dark gray bill. Until recently considered the same species as Eastern Screech-Owl.

● Song: "hoo-hoo-hoo", "cr-r-oo-oo-oo"

● Foraging & Feeding: Western Screech-Owl: Diet largely consists of insects, small mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, and crayfish. Nocturnal, usually begins foraging 45 minutes after sundown and returns to daytime roost within 30 minutes of sunrise; drops from perch to capture prey.

● Breeding & nesting: Western Screech-Owl: Nests in a tree cavity, usually 6 to 20 feet above ground; readily uses suitable nest boxes. Two to six white eggs are laid on natural sawdust on the floor of the cavity. Female incubates for 21 to 30 days.

● Similar species: Western Screech-Owl: Eastern Screech-Owl is smaller and paler, with pale, yellow-tinged bill.

Flight Pattern

Silent wing beats., Bouyant flight.
Western Screech-Owl (northwest coast kennicotti) Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Western Screech-Owl: Common resident in much of the western U.S., Canada, and Mexico in a variety of habitats. Preferred habitats include open woods, especially oak, mixed pine/oak, and sycamore.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationFairly common to common, Widespread
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight5.4 Ounces