Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) | Affiliated Manuscripts | Further Data

Occurrence in Amherst & Connecticut Valley, Mass.
C19

Common resident, but least common in summer

January - December

C20

Resident, common in the lowlands, rare in the hills, and cusiously less often heard or noticed in the first half of the year than in the second

January - December

C21

Resident; the species generally is believed to be nonmigratory, except perhaps in the most northerly parts of the range

January - December

Habitat
Open deciduous woods , woodlots, suburban areas, lakeshores, old orchards. (National Audubon Society)
Nest Materials
Nests in a hollow tree opened or enlarged by other agents including woodpeckers, fungus, rot, or squirrels. (Clark 1906; allaboutbirds.org)
19th-20th Century Field Notes
Mottled gray , black and white , varying to pure rusty - red , streaked beneath . Length , 10 - 11 inches . Common , except in summer . Raises 1 brood . Eggs 4 - 6 , white . Nest in a hollow tree . Eggs laid in May . Although the nest has not been found here , Mr . H . W . Greenough took a female in the gray , and a young bird in the red , plumage , July 5 , 1886 . Notes , pitiable cries and moans . Feeds on mice and insects , and very rarely a few chickens . Beneficial .

—H.L. Clark, 1887

21st Century Conservation Notes

Still widespread and fairly common, but thought to have been gradually declining in various parts of range. Helped in some areas by provision of nest boxes.*