Eastern Screech Owl
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Eastern Screech Owl
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| Megascops asio (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Eastern Screech Owl or Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) is a small owl.
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[edit] Description
Adults have either rusty or dark gray intricately patterned plumage with streaking on the underparts. Small and stocky, short-tailed and broad-winged, they have a large round head with ear tufts, yellow eyes and a yellowish bill. Rusty birds are more common in the southern parts of the range; pairings of the two color variants do occur. A pale gray variation also exists in western Canada and the north-central United States. The color variations are referred to as "red-phase" and "gray-phase" by bird watchers and ornithologists.
[edit] Breeding
Their breeding habitat is deciduous or mixed woods in eastern North America. Usually solitary, they nest in a tree cavity, either natural or excavated by a woodpecker; they will also use nesting boxes. They are strictly nocturnal, roosting during the day in cavities or next to tree trunks.
[edit] Prey
These birds wait on a perch on low limbs in open woods and along forest edges and swoop down on prey; they may also catch insects in flight. They mainly eat large insects and small rodents, as well as small birds. They are active at night or near dusk, using their excellent hearing and night vision to locate prey.
[edit] Parasites
This species is infected by several parasites including Plasmodium elongatum, Plasmodium forresteri and Plasmodium gundersi.
[edit] In popular culture
The owl is used in the logo for the Hooters restaurant chain.
[edit] Image gallery
 Grey phase |
 Grey phase |
 Red phase |
 Gray phase (left) and red phase (right) |
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Megascops asio. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Owlpages.com description of the eastern screech owl with a map of its range and recordings of its calls
- USGS page for the eastern screech owl
[edit] External links
- Eastern Screech Owl - Otus asio - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Eastern Screech Owl Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Screech Owl - eNature.com
- Eastern Screech Owl Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding
- Eastern Screech Owl videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Dewey, Tanya, and Stephen McDonald (2006). Otus asio. Animal Diversity Web.
- http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/owls/escreech.html
- http://www.owling.com/Eastern_Screech.htm
