Screech Owl Facts
- The screech owl does not really screech. Its main calls are a soft tremolo and a whinny. The western screech owl call sounds like a bouncing ball.
- Screech owls are easily attracted to nest boxes.
- Screech owls eat mainly rodents.
- Eastern and Western Screech Owl ranges combine to cover most of the U.S.
- Preferred screech owl habitat is broken woods, gardens, and backyards.
- Screech owls can easily be called down for observation by imitating screech owl calls or playing recordings of screech owls.
- Screech owls are common in suburban settings, even within heavily populated areas.
- Eastern screech owls can be red or gray, even in the same brood.
- Western screech owls come in brown and gray phases.
- The rotomolded Screech Owl Nest Box made by the Barn Owl Box Company will far outlast wooden nest boxes.
- The lack of suitable nesting sites is often the greatest limiting factor for screech owl populations.
- Screech owls prefer nest boxes over natural cavities, mainly because most natural cavities are more cramped than manmade boxes.
- Neither Eastern or Western screech owls migrate, remaining permanent residents.
