Eastern Screech Owl

Eastern Screech Owl

Megascops asio.

The Eastern Screech Owl is a small, nocturnal bird found in woodlands, suburban areas, and forests across eastern North America. It has a distinctive appearance with tufted "ears," a round face, and varying plumage colors, typically gray or reddish-brown. Known for its haunting, trilling call, it hunts at night, feeding on small mammals, insects, and birds. Despite its size, it is a skilled hunter and an important part of its ecosystem.

CONSERVATION STATUS: LEAST CONCERN

Range

Eastern screech owls are found across eastern North America, from southern Canada to central Florida, and west to eastern Texas and the Great Plains.

Fast Facts

  • Description

    The Eastern Screech Owl is a small, compact bird with ear tufts on its head, a round face, and large, yellow eyes. Its plumage is cryptic, usually in shades of gray or reddish-brown, which helps it blend into tree bark and other natural surroundings.

  • Diet

    Eastern Screech Owls feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals (like mice and shrews), insects, birds, and occasionally amphibians.

  • Size

    On average, these owls measure about 6 to 10 inches in length with a wingspan of around 18 to 24 inches. They typically weigh between 4 to 8 ounces.

  • Lifespan

    Wild: 3-5 years

    Human care: 10-15 years

Eastern screech owls can have two different color morphs—gray and reddish-brown—which helps them blend into different types of environments. Interestingly, these color variations are not tied to geographic location, but rather to genetics, giving the owls the ability to camouflage effectively in both dense forests and more open woodlands.

Fun Fact

Our Wildlife Ambassadors

Acorn

Acorn was found along a roadside in Georgia. He was very malnourished and missing his right eye. Rehabbers first believed that Acorn was the victim of a car strike, as it is a very common cause of injury for raptors. Upon further examination, it was determined that Acorn was born without his eye. Because of this, Acorn was not able to hunt for himself and became a permenant resident at Raptor Hallow Sanctuary. Despite his tiny size, Acorn packs a big presence at our sanctuary, helping to edcuate and inspire all who meet him.

Acorn has been at the sanctuary since 2021