Eastern Screech Owl

General Information

The Eastern screech owl is an average sized bird with a 19-24 inch wingspan. As is common with many birds of prey, the females of this species tend to be larger than the males. They can be either gray or rufous (a red/brown coloration), with darker streaking of color covering the body. Eastern screech owls also have feathered tufts on their heads and feathered feet as well. They are carnivores that prey on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even smaller birds.

Breeding season occurs in late winter early spring. Females lay clutches of 2-6 eggs, which will incubate for about 26 days. Chicks will fledge – i.e. leave the nest and start to fly – after about four weeks, but will remain dependent on their parents for food for another five to six weeks. Maturity occurs around 1 year.


Diet

Eastern screech-owls in the wild have a greatly varied diet. They catch and eat most things smaller than them including insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. These amazing little owls are even agile enough in flight to prey on finches, jays, and doves among other birds. When it comes to mammals, screech-owls frequently consume rats and mice as well as moles and rabbits.

Eastern screech owls are sit-and-wait hunters that swoop down silently on their next meal from low-lying branches. They usually hunt in the dim light of dusk and dawn or at night. If an eastern screech-owl catches more food than it can eat, it may cache excess food in tree cavities to save for other days when hunting isn’t as successful. After eating, screech owls (like other owls) expel small pellets of indigestible prey parts: bones, fur, feathers, and even teeth. The average screech owl regurgitates two to four pellets per day.


Habitat and Range

Due to their ability to easily adjust to many habitat types, the eastern screech owl has a large ecological niche. These small owls can be found all along the eastern part of North America from the bottom of Canada to the top of Mexico. They can readily adapt to living near humans in urban and suburban areas, although they prefer to be located in wooded regions.

Eastern screech-owls do not build nests and thus must find already made nest cavities to occupy. They will use anything from woodpecker holes to nest boxes meant for wood ducks and kestrels. Eastern screech-owls are not migratory birds.


Common Physical Features

Eastern screech owls are a smaller owl ranging in size from 6-10 inches and a wingspan of 19-24 inches. As is common with many birds of prey, the females of this species tend to be larger than the males. Eastern screech owls are a mix of white, gray, and reddish-brown—coloration that helps them blend into the branches and trees. Eastern screech owls have feathered tufts on their heads and feathered feet as well. Juveniles of the species closely resemble adults, but have ear tufts that are not fully developed and may also have light and dark barring on the head, mantle, and under parts.

In areas where both western and eastern screech owls are found, it is easiest to tell the two apart by sound. Also, the Eastern Screech-Owl is slightly smaller than the Western Screech-owl. The two most common calls of the eastern screech owl are the even-pitched trill and the descending whinny. Both of these calls can be heard at night as this animal is primarily a nocturnal hunter.

Adaptations: Eastern screech owls are ambush predators that swoop down silently on their next meal from low-lying branches. The soft edges on their serrated flying feathers help muffle the sound of their flapping wings, enabling them to sneak up on their prey silently. Most hunting is done during the first 4 hours after sunset.

These owls have symmetrical ears, which suggest that they hunt primarily using their vision. They do, however, have excellent hearing as they often capture prey hidden by leaf litter. Disc feathers around eyes serve as sound collectors. Wide set ear tufts, which are feathers and not the actual ears, can stand up totally when alert or lay flat against head to help funnel sounds into ear slits which are located on the sides of the head.

The Eastern screech owl’s yellow eyes are so large that they can’t move in their sockets. In order to look around, these owls have to turn their neck, which can rotate up to 270 degrees in either direction. They have excellent vision in both the light and dark.

Like other owls, the screech owl also has a strong curved beak and talons to help it catch its prey.


Behavior and Life Cycle

Once they’ve reached sexual maturity, Eastern screech-owls will select a mate and pair bond to that bird. Like many birds of prey, most eastern screech-owls mate for life after successful breeding. If breeding isn’t successful, however, the pair may switch and re-pair with other birds until they form a successful breeding pair.
Breeding occurs in late winter early spring.

To court a female, the male screech-owl will give a trill call while running up and down branches. Once mated, the female will select a nest location. Eastern screech owls don’t build a nest. Instead, thy will look for natural tree cavities or the abandoned nests of other animals. Females lay their eggs directly on the layer of fur and feathers left over from their previous meals that lines the bottom of their den.

Females lay clutches of 2-6 eggs in early spring and incubate the eggs for about 26 days. After hatching, chicks are covered in white down and their eyes are sealed shut. The female will brood them (i.e. keep them safe and warm) while the male provides food. Chicks will fledge – i.e. leave the nest and start to fly – after about 4 weeks, but will remain dependent on their parents for food for another 5-6 weeks. Chick will fully mature around 1 year of age.


Conservation Messaging

Together with Nature
Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming.

What can we do?: One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels. Ecosystems have a natural balance so it’s important for us as humans to leave no trace! Once you leave nature, no one should know that you’ve been there. This means bringing out anything that you’ve brought in. Additionally, leaving the environment unaltered is equally important.

Never remove an animal from the wild! Some well-meaning people may think its a good idea to try and aid injured animals or relocate “pest” animals, but the truth is, trapping rarely ends well for wildlife and is not a long term solution.

While you might be thinking you are helping that animal, most people don’t realize the amount of care and time that goes in to caring for these animals, and removing them from their natural environment can be detrimental to the wild populations. If wild animals are not causing damage or posing danger, the best solution is to coexist! If you come across injured wildlife please call your local wildlife rehabilitation center as they are better equipped to handle and care for that animal.


Fun Facts

  • The eggs generally hatch in the order they were laid, so that all the young are not born at the same time.
  • Regurgitate pellets (castings) of feathers, bones and fur several hours after they’ve eaten. It’s believed that pellet formation and regurgitation are necessary for a bird’s good health.
  • The screech owl is the most abundant and familiar of all North American owls, ranging throughout the United States and northern Mexico and are the smallest “eared” owls east of the Rocky Mountains.

Bibliography

Black Vulture

Physical Description

Vultures are very large birds with sharp, hooked beaks for tearing apart meat and wide wingspans. New World vultures have a distinctive bald head, an adaptation that helps reduce the risk of disease. Their strong immune system allows vultures to eat rotting and possibly infected meat without getting sick. They have long, horizontal nostrils with a space between them and lack a voice box, so they cannot make any sound except hisses and grunts.


Predators

Jaguars, mountain lions, hawks, eagles, and raccoons.


Lifespan

In the wild vultures live around 20 years. Under human care they can live into their 30s.


Reproduction

Vultures form monogamous pairs for life, and males will court females by showing off their flying skills, almost touching the females’ wing tip as they fly by. New World vultures lay their egg(s) in a cave or under a rocky overhang, under bushes or rock piles, or in tree hollows or fallen logs. Females lay one egg if she is a larger vulture and two eggs if she is smaller. Both parents incubate and feed the chicks. Chicks remain in the nest for 2-3 months until they learn how to find and compete for food.


Fun Facts

  • Black vultures maintain close social ties with their extended families throughout their lives.
  • When a vulture is upset, its head turns red and it looks like it is blushing.

Conservation Messaging

Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming. One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels.

Barred Owl

Physical Description

A barred owl is the second largest owl in Pennsylvania. It is easily recognized by its stocky body, large dark brown eyes, and the puffy round head with no ear tufts. The horizontal bars on the throat and upper breast, and the vertical streaks on the belly give this owl its name.


Predators

Foxes, bobcats, coyotes, bears, and occasionally snakes and other birds of prey.


Lifespan

In the wild, owls live on average around 5-10 years. Under human care they can live up to 30 years.


Reproduction

Owls are usually solitary outside of breeding season. Male owls may bring offerings of food, dropping the item near the female, who is usually much larger, to catch her interest. If prey is scarce, only two or three eggs may be laid; if food is easily available, then six or more eggs may be laid. Chicks generally hatch two days apart, with the oldest chicks getting the most food. Young owl chicks are cared for by their mother for about three months.


Fun Facts

  • Young Barred Owls can climb trees by grasping the bark with their bill and talons, flapping their wings, and walking their way up the trunk.
  • Barred owls are one of the most vocal owl species.

Conservation Messaging

Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming. One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels.

Barn Owl

Physical Description

Barn owls can be identified by their heart-shaped facial disk, white underparts, and long legs. Owl eyes are so big that there is little room for eye muscles, meaning owls can’t move their eyes. Instead, owls move their entire head turning their heads about 270 degrees in either direction.


Predators

Foxes, bobcats, coyotes, bears, and occasionally snakes and other birds of prey.


Lifespan

In the wild, owls live on average around 5-10 years. Under human care they can live up to 30 years.


Reproduction

Owls are usually solitary outside of breeding season. Male owls may bring offerings of food, dropping the item near the female, who is usually much larger, to catch her interest. If prey is scarce, only two or three eggs may be laid; if food is easily available, then six or more eggs may be laid. Chicks generally hatch two days apart, with the oldest chicks getting the most food. Young owl chicks are cared for by their mother for about three months.


Fun Facts

  • Having the most sensitive hearing of all owls, the barn owl can pinpoint the direction and distance of rustling prey in total darkness.
  • Not a hooting owl, this bird makes raspy screeches, hisses, and clicks with its beak.

Conservation Messaging

Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming. One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels.

African Penguins

Physical Description

African penguins, like all penguin species, are flightless birds. Instead, penguins use their small, dense feathers for insulation, repelling water, and protecting their skin. They are stiff contour feathers which overlap each other like shingles on a roof and help keep their skin dry. Underneath them is a thin layer of down feathers which hold a pocket of air. The contour feathers help trap that air and its heat next to the skin.

Having a body shaped like a torpedo or bowling pin helps make them more hydrodynamic so they can swim faster. Their belly is white and may have some black flecks on it, while their back is black. This is called countershading and provides them with camouflage in the water.


Predators

African Penguins have two main predators in the wild; these include sharks and sea lions. Their eggs are preyed upon by kelp gulls and sacred ibis as well as as well as large herons, Cape genet, mongoose, rats, domestic cats, and leopards. Humans also have been known to collect penguin eggs because they have been considered a delicacy.


Lifespan

The average life span for African penguins in the wild is 10-15 years. In human care, the average is 20-30 years.


Reproduction

Large colonies gather together on land when it is time to breed, molt, or rest. African penguins breed year-round, but it can vary depending on the year, season and colony. Primarily monogamous, African penguins will often form the same pair bonds every year. Males will court females with various physical displays, which she will respond to if she is receptive to his courting.

The female will then lay 1-2 eggs about 2-4 days apart. Incubation will last about 40 days. The parents will alternate incubating the eggs and foraging for food in the ocean. When penguin chicks hatch, they will be reliant on their parents for warmth, food, and protection for several weeks. When they are about 70-90 days old, they will finally grow their waterproof contours they need to begin heading into the water on their own.


Fun Facts

  • African penguins experience an annual catastrophic molt. Over a period of approximately 18 days, they will replace all of their feathers, and during this time, they will be unable to feed because their downy feathers exposed during the molt are not waterproof.
  • While diving for food, they average depths of 16-80 feet but can reach depths of up to 300 feet! Having solid, heavy bones (unlike most birds, which have hollow bones), also helps them with be able to dive deeper.

Conservation Messaging

South African penguins are considered endangered but there are many ways we can help their populations in the wild. One easy way to do this is to choose sustainable seafood options. You can download the Seafood Watch smartphone application by Monterey Bay Aquarium to ensure the seafood you’re purchasing is sustainably sourced. You can also download their pamphlet which will provide you with the best fish choices, appropriate alternatives, and certain fish species to avoid when fishing or purchasing food. Making smart and sustainable choices will help ensure that penguins in the wild are left with plenty of fish to eat!

To learn more about the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch App, visit: seafoodwatch.org.

Another great organization to support is the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds or (SANCCOB). SANCCOB is located in South Africa and actually helps rescue, rehab, and release South African Penguins which is helping their wild populations. You can help SANCCOB sustain their mission by donating or by “adopting” a penguin that is currently undergoing care. To learn more or to make a donation, visit: www.sancobb.org.