Western counterpart to the eastern screech-owl — similar size and ear tufts, but only gray morph. Calls differ critically between species: accelerating "bouncing ball" sequence.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The western screech owl is a small owl native to North and Central America, closely related to the eastern screech owl. The scientific name commemorates the American naturalist Robert Kennicott.
Source: Wikipedia — Western screech owl Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Small owl with short ear tufts, a gray (sometimes brownish) bark-like pattern, yellow eyes, and a dark-tipped black bill.
Similar species. Eastern Screech-Owl looks nearly identical but is separated by range and voice; Whiskered Screech-Owl is smaller with bolder markings and a different call.
Voice. An accelerating series of short whistles speeding up like a bouncing ball ('bouncing-ball' song), plus a short trill.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small mammals, birds, insects; hunting style varies by species.
Behavior. A small nocturnal owl of western woodlands, deserts, and suburbs; hunts insects, small mammals, and birds from perches and nests in cavities. Highly tolerant of people.
§ Range
Western North America
§ Habitat
Diverse: oak woodland, riparian, desert, suburbs
§ Threats
Habitat loss, rodenticide poisoning, competition with barred owls in west.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the western screech-owl is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Install nest boxes. Skip rodenticides. Protect oak woodlands.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Western screech owl
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Megascops kennicottii
- IUCN Red List — search for Megascops kennicottii
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Megascops kennicottii
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
