Western Screech-Owl

Western Screech-Owl adult

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A common small owl of the West, the Western Screech-Owl can be found in urban as well as wild lands.

Description

• A small owl.
• Feathered ear tufts.
• Gray or gray-brown with small black streaks on feathers.

• Size: 19-25 cm (7-10 in)
• Wingspan: 55-62 cm (22-24 in)
• Weight: 100-305 g (3.53-10.77 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike in plumage, female larger.

Sound

Series of short whistled hoots, more closely spaced at end of series.

Conservation Status

Vulnerable to habitat loss because of urban development.

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.

Sources used to construct this page:

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.