The Life of a Screech Owl

Screech owls are a group of small to medium-sized nocturnal birds of prey native to the Americas. The owls get their name from the loud, screeching vocalizations they tend to produce. Different species vary in physical appearance and home ranges but all tend to have similar life cycles and habits.

  1. Birth

    • A screech owl is generally born in a nest built in a tree's natural hollow. It hatches out of an egg and may share the nest with up to six brothers and sisters. The mother owls lay eggs over a number of days, so in large clutches the chicks that hatch last usually get pushed out of the nest or killed by their siblings. After about a month, the screech owl chick leaves the nest and shadows its parents to learn how to survive. At eight to 10 weeks old the chick is old enough to go it alone.

    Hunting

    • One of the first things a fledgling will learn from its parents is how to hunt. The birds have naturally good eyesight and hearing to locate prey on the ground. Screech owls eat insects, mammals, reptiles, crayfish and amphibians. The young birds are taught to sit on a perch and watch the ground for movement. When prey is located the owl drops down, grabbing the food in its strong, sharp talons.

    Avoiding Danger

    • Being generally small, screech owls spend much of their lives avoiding predators. Plumage coloration often camouflages the owl against trees and is the bird's main defense. The birds also practice vigilance, watching and listening for predators as acutely as they watch for food. In protection of themselves and their nests, screech owls will also take on predators, making loud alarm calls and even physically attacking intruders.

    Breeding

    • Screech owls live a solitary lifestyle for most of the year, but in the breeding season they pair off to mate. The same pairs generally breed together each year but males sometimes stray with other females. Mating season varies with species and range but all species favor large natural cavities for building their nests. Both parents are involved in protecting and raising the young.

    Life Span

    • Screech owls are vulnerable to predators and habitat loss, so many chicks don't survive their first year of life. Those that do live a dangerous life and rarely live more than few years. Some wild owls, however, can survive for more than a decade.