Eastern Screech Owl
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Megascops
Species: Megascops asio
The Eastern Screech Owl is a bird that most Regents students have probably seen without knowing it. This species roosts in the nooks and crannies of trees during the day, and it is so well camouflaged that it is often glanced over. Sometimes Songbirds mob it during the day which can give away its location to other birds and humans as well. This mobbing helps teach young birds of the dangers of owls while at the same time letting the birds in the surrounding areas know exactly where the predator is. At night, its loud and spooky trill gives away its presence as it hunts. The Eastern Screech Owl mates for life, and when raising young, the female sits on the nest while the male does all of the hunting. Once or twice a day, this bird regurgitates the bones, fur, and other inedible pieces of its prey in the form of pellets. Its acute hearing allows it to pinpoint the location of its prey, even if the prey is under snow or vegetation. Its serrated flight feathers muffle the sound of its flapping wings and give it the stealth it needs to sneak up on its soon-to-be meal.
Conservation status: Least concern
Description: Greyish overall with patterned plumage that blends in with trees; ear tufts and yellow eyes
Length: 8 inches
Wingspan: 20 inches
Diet: Sparrows, mice, large insects such as cicadas, and anole lizards
Habitat: Parks, woodlands, and gardens
Season: All year
Credit source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
