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Eastern Screech-Owl

Megascops asio

Bird · family Strigidae · order Strigiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Eastern Screech-Owl
Photo: Wolfgang Wander, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
41 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
14 years[4]

The Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) is a small owl in the family Strigidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Eastern Screech-Owl a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a United States rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The species is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and CITES records it in Appendix II[8][9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Eastern Screech-Owl lives

NatureServe lists the Eastern Screech-Owl as native in 41 US states and territories[3]. These include Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming, plus the District of Columbia[3]. State ranks differ. NatureServe also gives each state its own rank, shown in the table on this page[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S1BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S3VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: native, state rank S3MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S3WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S4B,S4NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S3B,S3NRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S4BCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5B,S5NKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S4NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S1DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S5FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (41 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
ColoradoS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS1Critically Imperiled
FloridaS5Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS3Vulnerable
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
New HampshireS4Apparently Secure
New JerseyS4Apparently Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS3B,S3NVulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
VermontS3Vulnerable
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS3Vulnerable

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this owl, including hardwood, conifer and mixed forest, woodland, old fields, suburban areas and orchards, forested wetlands and riparian areas[12]. It also uses parklands, towns, scrub and woodland edges[13]. It rests and nests in tree holes, old woodpecker holes and nest boxes[13]. Nests are often placed well above the ground[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

This owl is small. Its typical length is 22 cm (9 in) and its typical weight is 194 g[14][15]. It eats mainly mice, shrews and insects, and takes whatever is easy to find[16]. EltonTraits estimates its diet at 50% other vertebrates and 50% invertebrates[17]. A typical clutch is 4 eggs, and incubation lasts about 29 days[18][19]. Females can breed at about one year old[20]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 14 years 8 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 22 cm (9 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 194 g (6.8 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 20.7 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 14 years 8 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 4
Gestation or incubation[19] 29 days
Female maturity[20] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[22] Carnivore, Invertivore
Migration[23] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[17]

  • 50% other vertebrates
  • 50% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Eastern Screech-Owl is nocturnal, which means it is active at night[24]. NatureServe calls it a non-migrant, so it stays in the same area through the year, though populations can differ[23]. Eggs are laid from March to May[25]. GBIF records in the United States are highest in May, September and December[26]. These records show when people look and report, not how many owls there are[26].

January: 39,875 recordsJanFebruary: 36,253 recordsFebMarch: 35,980 recordsMarApril: 38,185 recordsAprMay: 54,373 recordsMayJune: 15,106 recordsJunJuly: 17,861 recordsJulAugust: 33,920 recordsAugSeptember: 44,463 recordsSepOctober: 32,885 recordsOctNovember: 25,916 recordsNovDecember: 42,793 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January39,875
February36,253
March35,980
April38,185
May54,373
June15,106
July17,861
August33,920
September44,463
October32,885
November25,916
December42,793

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Eastern Screech-Owl as present in 62 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 38 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, New York[28]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Eastern Screech-Owl endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure)[2].
Where does the Eastern Screech-Owl live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 41 US states and territories, from Texas and Florida to Maine and Wyoming[3].
What does the Eastern Screech-Owl eat?
It eats mainly mice, shrews and insects, and also other small animals[16].
How big is the Eastern Screech-Owl?
Its typical length is 22 cm (9 in) and its typical weight is 194 g[14][15].
How long does the Eastern Screech-Owl live?
The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 14 years 8 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Eastern Screech-Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Eastern Screech-Owl: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Eastern Screech-Owl as native in 41 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Eastern Screech-Owl from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 14 years 8 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) is a bird in the family Strigidae, order Strigiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Eastern Screech-Owl is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Eastern Screech-Owl (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Eastern Screech-Owl: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Old field, Suburban/orchard, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Eastern Screech-Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 22 cm (9 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 194 g (6.8 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Eastern Screech-Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 50% other vertebrates, 50% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 29 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20.7 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe migration category for Eastern Screech-Owl: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Eastern Screech-Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Eastern Screech-Owl in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Eastern Screech-Owl as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  28. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Eastern Screech-Owl: Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, New York. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Wolfgang Wander, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.