EASTERN SCREECH OWL
Otus asio

IDENTIFICATION: Screech owls are one of the smallest Florida owls.  They usually stand between 7 and 10 inches tall.  Their wingspan averages between 18 and 24 inches.  They can be different colors, usually red, gray or brown.  They also have streaks and spots of brown and white.  They have small feather tufts on the top of their head that are often mistaken for ears.

RANGE AND HABITAT: The Eastern screech owl live in most of the East and Midwestern portions of the United States.  They are found in the entire state of Florida.  They are not too particular about their habitat, and can be found in forests, swamps, agricultural and residential areas.

REPRODUCTION: Eastern screech owls nest in the spring in Florida.  Typically, they build their nests in hollow tree cavities.  They rarely use any kind of nesting material.  For their size, they are quite brave and have been known to even attack people that get too close to their nests!  Females lay between 4-5 eggs, which hatch in about a month.  Both parents feed the young that will leave the nest after only one month.

DIET: Screech owls are nocturnal hunters and eat a wide variety of small animals including insects and mice.

FUTURE: Eastern screech owls are fairly common throughout their range.  However they, like all birds of prey, are protected against people injuring them, disturbing their nests, or keeping them as pets.

Adoptee

Our Eastern screech owl is a red-phased one, which has lived at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium since March of 1992.  It was brought to the Audubon Bird of Prey Center in Orlando in the winter of 1991 after it had fallen from a tree.  Apparently it had an old wing fracture that had not healed properly and was unable to hunt for itself.  

            This bird's diet at the Center consists of mice.  It eats between one and two mice each day.  It usually eats more when the weather is cold.  We have to feed this owl dead mice, since the bird is unable to hunt anymore.

            During the day, very few people get to see this bird.  Like all owls, it is not active during the day. There is a nest box in the cage that it sleeps in.  At night it flies short distances to the different perches.  In the spring of 2001 she laid several eggs, which came as quite a surprise to us!  Female birds of prey can lay eggs without mating.  The eggs are infertile and will not hatch.

            This bird is used quite often for educational programs.  It was quite easy to train to stand on a naturalist’s hand and does not mind being in front of lots of people.  It actually even seems to like being petted occasionally by us, which is very rare for any bird of prey.

            The Eastern screech owl's adoptive parents may visit it during regular Museum hours.  

Anne Grace

Adopt an Animal Program