Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 7.5–9.8 in
19–25 cm - Wingspan
- 21.7–24.4 in
55–62 cm - Weight
- 3.5–10.8 oz
100–305 g
Other Names
- Petit-duc des montagnes (French)
- Tecolote occidental (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Occasionally takes prey larger than itself, including cottontail rabbits and Mallards.
- Western Screech-Owls are vulnerable to habitat loss because of urban development.
- Until recently it was considered the same species as the Eastern Screech-Owl.
Habitat
Open Woodland
- Lives in diversity of habitats, but associates with riparian habitats and deciduous trees.
- Also in urban and suburban parks and residential areas.
Food
Mammals
Mammals, birds, worms, insects, and crayfish.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–7 eggs
- Egg Description
- White.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered in white down, eyes closed.
Nest Description
Nests in tree cavities; readily uses nest boxes. Adds no nesting material to cavity.
Nest Placement
Cavity
Behavior
Stalking
Sit-and-wait predator.
Conservation
Least Concern
Vulnerable to habitat loss because of urban development.
Credits
- Cannings, R. J., and T. Angell. 2001. Western Screech-Owl (Otus kennicottii). In The Birds of North America, No. 597 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.