General

Eastern Screech-Owl Gray Morph: Small owl with gray-mottled upperparts, rows of white spots at shoulders and heavily streaked and barred underparts. Facial disk is lightly mottled with prominent dark rim. Ear tufts are small. Eyes are bright yellow and bill is yellow or olive-green. Short, rounded wings and tail are barred. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has a downy appearance. Red morph is similar but gray tones are replaced with red-brown.

Range and Habitat

Eastern Screech-Owl Gray Morph: Common in east North America from east Montana and the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, south to Tamaulipas in northeast Mexico; also found from south Ontario to Florida. Preferred habitats include mixed woodlands, deciduous forests, parklands, wooded suburban areas, riparian woods along streams and wetlands, mature orchards, meadows, and fields.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

No data available.

Interesting Facts

 The Eastern Screech Owl was first described by Carolus Linnaeus, in 1758. They have also been called the Common Screech Owl, Ghost Owl, Dusk Owl, Little-eared Owl, Spirit Owl, Whickering Owl, Little Gray Owl, Mottled Owl, Mouse Owl, Cat Owl, Shivering Owl, and Little Horned Owl.

 They are monogamous and remain together for life. Some males, however, will mate with two different females. The second female may evict the first female, lay her own eggs in the nest, and incubate both clutches.

 They are known to eat a variety of songbirds, including the European Starling. Despite this, starlings regularly displace these owls from nesting sites and takes over the nest to raise their own brood.

 A group of owls has many collective nouns, including a "bazaar", "glaring", "parliament", "stooping", and "wisdom" of owls.

Author

Gary Owen Dick