Eastern Screech-Owl

Megascops asio

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Identification

18-25 cm (7-10") Common. Woodlands, farm groves, orchards, parks, suburbs, shade trees.

Small owl with yellow eyes and usually a pale bill. Ear tufts may be flattened for a round-headed look. Underparts are barred and streaked.

Two color phases; gray, mostly in northern range and bright brown, mostly in southern range.

Nocturnal.

Best told from Western Screech-owl by location and song.

Song: mournful wail, whinny.

Details in the field

2 photos

Watch and learn

1 video

Through the Lens: Eastern Screech-Owl Camouflage

Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

3 rules

Rule 1 7 criteria confidence 4

Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?: Yes · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Owl
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:264-screech-owls:1:1 Source: 264 Screech-Owls, row 1

Rule 2 7 criteria confidence 4

Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?: Yes · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Owl
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:264-screech-owls:2:1 Source: 264 Screech-Owls, row 2

Rule 3 7 criteria confidence 2

Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?: Yes · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Owl
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:264-screech-owls:3:3 Source: 264 Screech-Owls, row 3