Eastern Screech Owl

Megascops asio (Linnaeus, 1758)

16–25 cmLength180 gWeight

The eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) or eastern screech-owl is a stocky, short-tailed owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.

Busiest months: May · Most records: United States, Canada, Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Eastern Screech Owl has been recorded at 418 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 3 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Magee Marsh – BoardwalkUnited States12,877 records
Estero Llano Grande SP WBCUnited States9,243 records
Bentsen-Rio Grande Val. SP WBC (Mission)United States3,141 records

More places

Maumee Bay SP – BoardwalkUnited States2,759 records
Point Pelee National ParkCanada2,637 records
Magee MarshUnited States2,060 records
Celery Bog Nature AreaUnited States1,958 records
Parc AngrignonCanada1,856 records
National Butterfly Center – General & area North of LeveeUnited States1,541 records
Britannia CACanada1,535 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United States Canada Mexico

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) or eastern screech-owl is a stocky, short-tailed owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada. Mid-sized for a screech owl, the species resides in most types of woodland habitats across its range and is relatively adaptable to urban and developed areas compared to other owls. Although it often lives in close proximity to humans, the eastern screech owl frequently avoids detection due to its strictly nocturnal habits.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Eastern Screech Owl?

The Eastern Screech Owl is about 16–25 cm long and weighs around 180 g.

Where does the Eastern Screech Owl live?

Its breeding range: North America, Middle America: southeastern, south-central Canada to northeastern Mexico. It is most often recorded in United States, Canada and Mexico.