Eastern Screech Owl
A small owl with ear tufts and yellow eyes. Feather patterning is complex and cryptic. Comes in various color morphs with gray being most common. Red morph is most distinct and least common. Brown morph is the natural hybrid between gray and red parents.
Behavior: A fearless owl. Despite its small size it will aggressively defend nest and territory. Does not hoot, or screech, but whistles in a staccato that repeats one tone or descends. Often compared to the whinnying of a horse.
Habitat: Various woodland types including parks, orchards, cemeteries and neighborhoods.
Range: Temperate North America from the Atlantic to the Rockies.
Abundance: Common throughout range.
Nesting: Nests in old woodpecker holes, natural tree cavities, nest boxes, and in hollows and eaves of barns, sheds and houses. Female does most of the incubation of the 4 to 5 eggs.
Food: Small rodents throughout year and
large insects during summer.
