Eastern Screech-owl
Megascops asio
A small, stocky owl with ear tufts and gray, brown or red feathers that hides in tree holes in eastern North America.
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About the Eastern Screech-owl
Eastern screech-owls are 6.3 to 9.8 inches long and weigh about 4.6 to 7.8 ounces. They come in gray, brown and reddish forms with yellow eyes, and their feathers blend with tree bark. They live in woods near water east of the Rocky Mountains, including parks and neighborhoods. They eat mice, birds, earthworms, insects, crayfish, frogs and lizards; one owl can eat more than 1,000 mice a year.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Megascops asio[1]
- Size
- 6.3 to 9.8 inches long; 19- to 24-inch wingspan.[1]
- Weight
- About 4.6 to 7.8 ounces.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 8 to 10 years.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Mice, birds, earthworms, insects, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs and lizards.[1]
- Habitat
- Wooded areas near water, including parks, neighborhoods and orchards.[1]
- Where it lives
- East of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S., with small populations in Canada and Mexico.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary except when breeding. Nocturnal.[1]
- Babies
- 3 or 4 eggs.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2019).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- raptor
- A bird of prey, such as a hawk, eagle, vulture or owl.
- camouflage
- Colors or patterns that help an animal blend in.
- morph
- One of the color forms found in a single species.
- nocturnal
- Active mainly at night.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · American TrailSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Eastern screech-owl.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/eastern-screech-owl (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Megascops asio (Eastern Screech-owl).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/155660662/152331179 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
