About Eastern Screech Owls
Females grow to around 6.8 ounces while males grow to around 5.9 ounces. Adults span from 7-10 inches in height while having a 16-inch wingspan. They are the smallest species of owl in North America.
Owls are warm-blooded (like mammals). Their bodies are covered with feathers. They have two types of feathers, small down feathers and larger exterior feathers. The down feathers are closer to their body and help them to stay warm. The exterior feathers help with temperature regulation, camouflage and flying. The bones of all owls are filled with lots of tiny air pockets making them very lightweight, which allow them to fly.
There are 22 species of screech owls. These owls are mostly nocturnal and do most of their hunting at dawn and dusk, but will occasionally hunt during the day. They like to bathe themselves regularly and can often be found dead in rain barrels.
Eastern Screech Owl at the Akron Zoo
The eastern screech owls live in the porch next to the river otters in Mike & Mary Stark Grizzly Ridge. All the owls were injured in their native habitat and rehabilitated, but unable to be re-released due to their injuries.
- Linus
- Lucy
- Charlie Brown
- Schroeder