GENERAL INFORMATION

Owls are quite unique birds. Although they are classified as raptors, owls are very different from many other birds of prey in their anatomy, feather structure, and hunting techniques. They are noted for their large head and large eyes which are fixed in the skull, making it necessary for them to rotate their heads in order to change their view. Their hearing is very acute and in many species the ears, which are crescent-shaped slits beneath the facial feathers, are placed asymmetrically (unevenly) on the head in order to better pick up sound. Owls also have a distinctive facial disk which helps to direct sound towards the ears. The flight of an owl is almost noiseless due to tiny fringe-like structures found along the outer edge of each feather. This allows an owl to fly silently towards its prey without detection.

DESCRIPTION

The Screech Owl is one of our smallest owls, measuring only 8 to 9 inches in length. They have yellow eyes and prominent eartufts which aren't ears at all but simply elongated feathers on the top of the head. Screech Owls are noted for occuring in two distinct color phases, red and gray. Their small size and distinct ear tufts lead many people to believe that the screech owl is actually a baby Great Horned Owl.

HABITS AND HABITATS

Screech Owls are quite common in our area and live in a variety of habitats. Woodlands are preferred, especially those with conifers present. Screech Owls are quite adaptable and often will live even in suburban areas if suitable nesting sites are available. Screech owls make their nests in tree cavities, either naturally occuring ones or abandoned woodpecker holes. They will often readily accept artificial nest boxes as well. They do not bring in any nesting material, instead laying their eggs directly on the wooden chips and debris found on the floor of the cavity. Two to six eggs are laid, usually in April, and require around 26 days to hatch. They are strong, faithful incubators, often reluctant to leave the nest even when disturbed. The female Screech Owl does most of the incubating of the eggs, but both parents are involved in caring for the young after hatching. By day, Screech Owls sit quietly among the branches of a tree. If danger threatens, these little owls protect themselves by elongating their bodies and extending their ear tufts to resemble and blend into the tree branches. They shut their eyes down to a mere slit and remain perfectly still until the threat has passed. By night, they are fierce hunters, preying on mice, insects, snakes, lizards, crayfish, salamanders, and even other birds.

HISTORY

Screech Owls get their name from their call, which can often be heard right at dark. An old saying is that hearing the call of the Screech Owl means that someone is going to die! Actually, the Screech Owl has two calls, one a mournful wailing sound, and the other a plaintive, tremulous whistle which is often heard after the first call is repeated one or more times. The Screech Owl, due to its small size and adaptability, is often found living in close proximity to humans. People with large picture windows and sliding glass doors near wooded areas where screech owls live, are sometimes surprised by owls which accidentally fly into the glass, sometimes merely stunning themselves, but often resulting in serious injury or death to the bird. Screech Owls often hunt in the grassy and brushy borders along our highways and are often hit by cars as they fly low across the roadway. The Screech Owl, like all other birds of prey, are protected by state and federal laws.

MEET OUR SCREECH OWLS

The Nature Center has two Screech Owls, a red phase specimen and a gray phase, which live in our Nocturnal Hall exhibit. In Nocturnal Hall, we have switched day and night so that nocturnal animals can be viewed during our daylight. Red lighting in the exhibit allows us to see these animals but is not detected by them. During our night (their day), white lights come on in the exhibit and the animals sleep. Both of our Screech Owls are injured, non-releaseable specimens. The gray phase has an injured wing which did not heal properly and the red phase had a wing that was injured so badly that it had to be amputated. Both of our Screech Owls are fed each day a diet of pre-killed mice, baby rats, crickets, or baby chicks.

INFORMATION LINKS

Raptor Center - St. Paul, MN

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©2002 WNC Nature Center