Western Screech Owl

Hunters of the night, lurking in the shadows. Stealthy and calculated. Symbols of wisdom, protection, spiritual awakening, a messenger or perhaps even an omen or token of evil. All these things describe or have been said regarding the family known as strigidae, or owls. Owls hold a place in many populations globally and throughout history reflecting their reverence and perceived connection to humanity. Much of this, I think, lies in the unknown. We know that they are among us, yet we rarely see them. They judge us from their clandestine perches in the middle of the day or while they scan the night for their next meal. No doubt they are fascinating, yet commonly misunderstood.

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When most people think of an owl, the image of the relatively large and culturally omnipresent great horned owl comes to mind. Perhaps the barn owl is what you conjure up. This would make sense, because they are both large birds that show up often in art and media. In North America you’re most likely to see the great horned owl, so we feel a particular connection with that species. Because of its size and ability to thrive in urban settings, it’s not uncommon to witness them owning the night in places boasting massive human populations such as Phoenix or Tucson.

In the Prescott area there are as many as eight owl species. The overall length of almost two feet and relative abundance of the great horned owl keep it at the forefront of perception about what an owl is. In contrast, of the eight owl species that we may find here, four come in at under 9” in length. Tied for the smallest, the northern pygmy owl and flammulated owl both barely break the 6.5” mark. The northern saw-whet is only about 8” long, and if we venture just a bit farther south into the Sonoran Desert, the elf owl is a shockingly small 5.75 inches, comparable to some sparrow species. Those smaller species are admittedly somewhat uncommon and hard to find for the average human, or even a tenured birder.

There is one species though that fits both categories of being diminutive in stature but also abundant as far as owls are concerned: the western screech owl. With that, it is extremely unlikely that most people in our area will ever see one. With effort, though, it is a species that can be found in our communities and even our own yards.

Several years ago we had a call from a customer who stated that she had three “small owls” using her carport to roost in during the day. This piqued our interest, and on visiting the home we were able to ID them as a recently fledged sibling group of western screech owls. It was very cool!

This owl spends most of its day either perched on a limb or in a tree cavity, where they nest. When in the cavity it’s not uncommon for them to press themselves against the opening, completely obstructing it. While this would seem to make them easier to find, it’s not that simple. I have most often seen them nesting in old cottonwood and oak trees, and when they blend their cryptic plumage into the bark, they all but disappear. It’s truly remarkable to witness, and makes me aware of how many times I didn’t see an owl that was in ‘plain sight.’

Your best bet is to catch them when their eyes are open, because their bright yellow irises are easier to pick out. But the second they close their eyes, either to sleep or to conceal their location, they practically melt into the tree.

Like most birds, they are an amazing species to have in your yard, providing effective, environmental-friendly and free pest control. In our area they are known to dine on our abundant populations of small rodents, but in addition they actually display an extremely varied diet, including worms and small insects, perched birds, bats, even fish and aquatic invertebrates. On occasion they’ve also been known to take prey larger than themselves, so cottontail rabbits and the oft-scorned pack rat are not safe from them.

Despite the name they don’t really make a screeching sound at all. Their actual vocalization is much more endearing, often described as the ‘bouncing ball.’ It starts out as a series of soft hoots that pace upward rapidly at the end. In spring listen for it in thick oak stands right around 9pm, when they come out to court, feed and own the night. Good luck!