Diet: Carnivore (eats meat); small mammals (mostly mice), large insects (moths and crickets), and small amphibians.

Reproduction: Breeding season is February-March. Male seeks female by calling during first 20-30 minutes after sunset. He courts her by running up and down branches, crouching and uttering a rasping call. Female selects nest site: hole or nook in tree or nesting box. Clutch size = 3-7 eggs ; Incubation = 26 days. The Male feeds the female during brooding and rearing of chicks which fledge (have flight feathers) at 4 weeks. Parents feed young for about 10 weeks.

Physical Description: Has strong beak. Eyes are fixed in the socket; can rotate head 260 degrees. They have excellent binocular vision, bright yellow iris. Most hunting is done during the first 4 hours after sunset. Flight feathers have soft edges so air rushing through them doesn’t create sound.