Eastern Screech Owl: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Owl Week · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. Early authors nicknamed the eastern screech owl the "feathered wildcat", for its ferocious and versatile hunting style.
2. Thanks to their small size and camouflage, these owls are much more often heard than seen.
3. They hunt from dusk to dawn, mostly in the first four hours of darkness. Their hearing can find mice under thick plants or snow.
4. Screech owls nest in holes 7 to 20 cm wide, often reusing cavities carved by northern flickers or pileated woodpeckers.
5. They cope well with towns. One was found nesting on top of a street light in a busy square, and city owls often catch house sparrows and mice.

The quiz

1. What did early authors nickname the eastern screech owl?

• Night tiger
• Feathered wildcat (correct)
• Winged fox
• Forest ghost

Early authors nicknamed it the "feathered wildcat" for its ferocious, versatile hunting.

2. Why are these owls more often heard than seen?

• They are small and camouflaged (correct)
• They only live underground
• They fly extremely high
• They wear bright colours

Their small size and camouflage make them far more often heard than seen.

3. When does the owl do most of its hunting?

• At noon
• Just before dawn
• In the afternoon
• In the first four hours of darkness (correct)

Most hunting happens in the first four hours of darkness.

4. Whose old holes do screech owls often reuse?

• Squirrels and bats
• Eagles and hawks
• Northern flickers and pileated woodpeckers (correct)
• Foxes and badgers

They often reuse cavities carved by northern flickers or pileated woodpeckers.

5. Where was one town screech owl found nesting?

• In a church bell
• On top of a street light (correct)
• Inside a post box
• In an underground tunnel

One was found nesting on top of a street light in a busy square.

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