Screech Owl
Otus asio
Trail Tidbits
This tiny, nocturnal owl has feather tufts like the great-horned owl, but is only 7 inches tall!
Screech owls have two color phases: a red and a gray. Gray is more common.
They nest in hollow trees or nest boxes made for other birds.
The call of the screech owl is an eerie wail of mellow notes.
They eat small mice, insects, amphibians and reptiles.
Sometimes can be seen bathing in bird baths at night.
