Baby Screech Owl Diet

Screech owls are small, nocturnal woodland predators. Screech owls are opportunistic hunters, meaning they will change their diet according to the most available or easily obtainable prey. In fact, Eastern screech owls have the most varied diet of any North American owl, per the University of Michigan. Baby screen owls have a similar diet to adults of this species.

  1. Hunting

    • While baby screech owls have similar dietary needs as adults, baby screech owls may not yet be able to fly, which prevents them from hunting. While they are still fledglings, the male parent will catch food and bring it to the female parent, who then tears the catch into manageable pieces. Baby screech owls who are able to leave the nest may hunt under supervision, both flying and hopping on the ground like the parent.

    Insects

    • Screech owls prefer small rodents, worms and lizards but will also hunt for large nocturnal insects such as moths and crickets, which are more prevalent. Large terrestrial arthropods such as spiders, scorpions and centipedes are also commonly consumed by screech owls, according to the Owl Pages. Baby screech owls capable of flight will eat small insects as they find them. Large insects are usually brought back to the nest, where they are stored for later or torn apart for easier immediate consumption.

    Mammals

    • Small woodland mammals make up the majority of the baby screech owl diet, including deer mice, cotton rats, bats, chipmunks and moles. Mammalian prey is too large to be consumed on the spot, so the parent or baby screech owls capable of hunting bring larger catches back to the nest or a perch, where it can be more safely torn apart into bite-size pieces.

    Birds

    • Small to medium bird species make up almost 10 percent of the average screech owl's diet. These birds are most commonly caught and consumed during migratory periods, when large numbers are present. Frequent catches include small song birds such as swallows as well as larger doves and grouses.

    Fish and Amphibians

    • Screech owls have been observed fishing in open water and ice-fishing holes left by anglers, according to the Owl Pages. Water-dwelling prey includes crayfish, small fish, water snakes, young and soft-shelled turtles, salamanders, frogs and toads. Similarly to other large catches, the parent or baby screech owl capable of flight will carry the catch back to the nest, where it is saved for later or broken down into smaller pieces.

    Identification

    • Baby screech owls typically hatch from March through May. Fledgling screech owls can be identified by their peeping calls for food in the first few weeks of life. Older baby screech owls chatter, hum or produce a loud, harsh "keer" sound to signal to their parents that they want food, according to the Owl Pages. Baby screech owls begin to leave the nest after only 28 days, at which point they will begin to hunt under supervision. Both parents will assume the role of feeding the infants at this stage, as the mother owl can safely leave the nest to hunt. Baby screech owls reach independence eight to 10 weeks after hatching.