Behavior of the Screech Owl

Screech owls are small birds, measuring between 7 and 10 inches long, yet their wingspans can stretch up to 21 inches. Females tend to be slightly larger than males. Both Eastern and Western screech owls are generally gray in color, but they do have slightly different physical characteristics. One of the best ways to distinguish between the two is bill color: Western screech owls have bills that are black with a white tip, while the Eastern screech owl's bill is usually yellow or pale green.

  1. Roosting

    • The Western screech owl likes to roost in cottonwood, mesquite, willow, and sycamore trees in Arizona's woodlands. Farther north, they roost in saguaro, paloverde, ironwood or pinyon pine and juniper trees. They stand on branches closer to the trunk because it is easier for them to avoid detection where the leaves are thickest.

    Mating

    • Eastern screech owls mate for life, while pairs of Western screech owls usually remain together for about a year to mate and protect a territory they carve out for themselves. They begin their courtship from January to March, when the male will provide food for the female. The two will bond by cleaning and preening each other's feathers. Males woo their mates with head movements and calls to signal interest. If the female accepts, she moves closer to him and they may touch bills.

    Habitat

    • The screech owl is nonmigratory, meaning it does not migrate from its habitat. The range of the Western screech owl's habitat stretches through about 12 U.S. states, Mexico and the coast of British Columbia, all the way up to southern Alaska. They live in woodlands, which provide the setting necessary for their foraging. They like habitats with flowing water such as rivers and creeks. Eastern screech owls like the same kinds of habitats. They are found primarily east of the Rocky Mountains.

    Duetting

    • Screech owls use duetting to communicate; one owl calls out and the other responds. Duetting can occur during mating or simply to announce their presence. The males' voices are lower in pitch than the females'.