Otus Asio

The Eastern Screech Owl ("Otus Asio") is one of the smallest birds or prey in the United States.

AOU Number: 373.0
Family: Strigidae
Order: Strigiformes
Scientific: Otus Asio
English: Eastern Screech-Owl
Old English: Common/Florida/McCall's/Mottled Screech-Owl
French: Scops d'Amérique
French Canadian: Petit-duc maculé
Old French: Petit-duc maculé
Spanish: Tecolote Orientál
German: Öst-Kreischeule
Swedish: Östen skrikuggla


Sub-species:
Otus asio asio - South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma
Otus asio maxwelliae - Northern USA, west of the Great Lakes
Otus asio naevius - Southeast Canada to Northeast USA. Largest subspecies
Otus asio hasbroucki - central Kansas to Oklahoma and Texas
Otus asio mccallii - South Texas to Northeast Mexico
Otus asio floridanus - Florida and west along the Gulf Coast to Louisiana and north to Arkansas

COMMON NAME: Eastern Screech Owl

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Otus asio

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
A small owl standing only about 6" to 8" high, the Eastern Screech-Owl is among the smallest of the birds of prey.

They are distinguished from other owls by the combination of small size, the tufts of feathers that stick up like ears, and the yellowish eyes, bill, and talons.

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Eastern Screech Owl is identified by its prominent tufts and white "eyebrows". It is often mistaken for a baby Great Horned Owl.

FIELD MARKS:
Tufts present, yellow eyes and a yellow/green or yellow/white beak.

This is the only species of owl in North America that occurs in two very different color phases or "morphs": gray and red. Most are a mottled grayish-brown, known as the gray morph, while some are reddish-brown, or rufous, known as the red morph.

GRAY MORPH:
The facial disk is gray/white surrounded by black fringe. Ventrally, pale brown to whitish with scattered dark brown streaks extending from chest long sides and flanks. Dorsally, buffy/gray throughout.

RUFOUS MORPH:
Eastern Screech-owls inhabiting deciduous forests of the eastern United States have a rufous (rust) color phase.

SIZE:
6 to 8 inches

WEIGHT:
6 to 7 ounces, 140 to 200 grams, averaging 167 grams.

Females are generally larger than males. Although there is some overlap, females weigh on average between 185 and 200 grams, while average male weight varies between 157 and 175 grams.

SIMILAR SPECIES:
Western screech-owl is similar in size, although slightly larger. Their bills are black to gray/green or gray/black. The overall plumage is gray.

HABITAT:
Primarily cottonwood bottoms. The Screech Owl is found in woodlands bordered with open fields. However, it is not uncommon to find Screech Owls in urban areas.

RANGE:
Found across North America and south into Mexico.

VOICE:
Two parts: First part, a quavering, drawn out ascending whistle, "Wheeee...," similar to a horse's whinny. Second part, a vibrating low whistle, "quohohoho...," run together. Calls are short.

Owl hoot (10k .au sound file)

Screech Owl whinny (85k .wav sound file)

NESTING HABITAT:
Nests in natural caveties or woodpecker holes, Screech Owls will also use man-made nest boxes.

NATURAL HISTORY:
Begins nesting in March. Clutch size 3 to 7 with an incubation period of approximately 26 days. Young fledge at approximately 30 days. Resident throughout the year.

DIET:
Screech Owls will feed on a wide variety of prey, utilizing what is most common. Some primary food items include small rodents, birds, insects, and reptiles.

CONSERVATION STATUS:
Considered a common owl, the Screech Owl is not afforded any special status.