Eastern screech-owl
The Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio ) is a small owl that is found in Eastern North America. This bird is native to most wooded environments of its distribution, and more so than any other owl in its range, has adapted well to manmade development; however, it frequently avoids detection due to its strictly nocturnal habits.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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U.S. States AnimalsEastern screech owls have either rusty or dark gray intricately patterned plumage with streaking on the underparts. These birds are stocky, short-tailed, and broad-winged as is typical of the genus. They have a large, round head with prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a yellowish beak. The feet are relatively large and powerful compared to more southern screech owls and are typically feathered down to the toes, although the southernmost populations only have remnant bristles rather than full feathering on the legs and feet. Two color variations are referred to as "red or rufous morphs" and "gray morphs" by bird watchers and ornithologists. Rusty birds are more common in the southern parts of the range; pairings of the two color variants do occur. While the gray morph provides remarkably effective camouflage amongst the bark of hardwood trees, red morphs may find security in certain pine trees and the colorful leaves of changing deciduous trees.
Eastern screech owls are found throughout much of eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada. They inhabit open mixed woodlands, deciduous forests, parklands, wooded suburban areas, riparian woods along streams and wetlands (especially in drier areas), mature orchards, and woodlands near marshes, meadows, and fields. Eastern screech owls may even live and nest in spots such as along the border of a busy highway and on the top of a street light in the middle of a busy town square. They often nest in trees in neighborhoods and urban yards inhabited by humans.
Eastern screech owls are generally solitary and can be seen in pairs only during the breeding season and during cold winters sharing a nest to warm up. These owls are strictly nocturnal, roosting during the day in cavities or next to tree trunks. They hunt from dusk to dawn, with most hunting being done during the first four hours of darkness. A combination of sharp hearing and vision is used for prey location. These owls hunt mainly from perches, dropping down onto prey. Occasionally, they also hunt by scanning through the treetops in brief flights or hover to catch prey. When prey is spotted, the owl dives quickly and seizes it in its talons. Small prey usually is swallowed whole on the spot, while larger prey is carried in the bill to a perch and then torn into pieces. Due to their small size and camouflage, Eastern screech owls are much more frequently heard than actually seen. They frequently call at night, especially during their spring breeding season. Despite their name, these owls do not truly screech. Their call is a tremolo with a descending, whinny-like quality, like that of a miniature horse. They also produce a monotone purring trill lasting 3-5 seconds.
Eastern screech owls are carnivores. They feed on insects, crayfish, snails, spiders, earthworms, scorpions, leeches, millipedes, and centipedes. They also hunt small mammals, small birds and sometimes small fish, small snakes, lizards, baby soft-shelled turtles, small frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.
Eastern screech owls are monogamous and form strong long-term pair bonds; however, sometimes males may mate with more than one female. These birds breed in April and pairs often return to the same nest year after year. They nest in a tree cavity, either natural or excavated by a woodpecker, and may also use nesting boxes erected by humans. Eggs are laid at two-day intervals and incubation begins after laying of the first egg. A clutch of 1 to 6 eggs is incubated for about 26 days, and the young reach the fledging stage at about 31 days old. Females do most of the incubating and brooding, but males also occasionally take shifts. The male provides most of the food while the female primarily broods the young. When owlets are small, the female tears the food apart for them. The young remain with their parents until they are 8-10 weeks old and reach reproductive maturity at 1 year of age.
Despite being relatively common within their range, Eastern screech owls suffer from deforestation, poisoning which causes the thinning of eggs and failure of nests, and especially predation by Virginia opossums, American minks, weasels, raccoons, ringtails, skunks, snakes, crows, and blue jays. Collisions with cars, trains, and windowpanes kill many Eastern screech owls, the earlier especially while feeding on roadside rodents and road kills.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Eastern screech owl is 560,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.