Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio)


Group	Owls
Code	ABNSB01030
Order	Strigiformes
Family	Strigidae
Author	(Linnaeus, 1758)
Rank	G5 (definitions)
Occurrence	P (definitions)
Scale	C (definitions)

County List:


Western UP	none
Eastern UP	none
Northern LP	Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Clare, Charlevoix, Bay, Arenac, Antrim, Alcona, Lake, Benzie, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Otsego, Montmorency, Wexford, Kalkaska, Iosco, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Mason, Manistee
Southern LP	Hillsdale, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Huron, Clinton, Barry, Cass, Calhoun, Branch, Berrien, Allegan, St. Joseph, Oakland, Saginaw, St. Clair, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee, Ottawa, Sanilac, Montcalm, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Ingham, Kent, Monroe, Jackson, Macomb, Livingston, Lapeer

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

Nesting and Foraging Habitat Requirements may be distributed over the COMPARTMENT

Nesting Habitat: 
      (Aspen (Sm Saw or Lg Saw))
      or (Oak (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Assorted Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern Hardwood (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or Savanna
   containing:
      (Snags or Living Cavity Trees or Man-made Structures - nest boxes)

Foraging Habitat 1st alternative:
      Grass
      or Upland Brush
      or Savanna

Foraging Habitat 2nd alternative:
      (Aspen (Sm Saw or Lg Saw))
      or (Oak (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Assorted Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern Hardwood (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      or Stand/Gap Openings

Foraging Habitat 3rd alternative:
      (Aspen (Sm Saw or Lg Saw))
      or (Oak (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Assorted Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern Hardwood (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   adjacent to:
      Edge

view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats	Regen	Sap	Pole	Sm Saw	Lg Saw	Uneven
Aspen	no	no	no	YES	YES	-
Paper Birch	no	no	no	no	no	-
Oak	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Assorted Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Spruce/Fir	no	no	no	no	no	no
Hemlock	no	no	no	no	no	no
Jack Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Red Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
White Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Conifer Plantations	no	no	no	no	no	-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Upland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Swamp Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch	no	no	no	no	no	no
Bottomland Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Tamarack	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern White Cedar	no	no	no	no	no	no
Black Spruce	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Non-Forested	Grass, Upland Brush, Savanna
Special Features	Man-made Structures, Snags, Living Cavity Trees, Edges, Stand (Gap) Openings

view size class definitions

Literature:

Carpenter, T. W. 1991. Eastern Screech-owl. Pages 238-239 In: R. Brewer, G. A. McPeek, and R. J. Adams, Jr. (eds.) The atlas of breeding birds of Michigan. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing. 594 pp.

Habitat: This small owl occupies woodlots, wooded stream borders, parks, cemeteries, and even residential areas that have at least a few large trees. It prefers wooded areas interspersed with open habitats like fields, marshes, and shrub. Continuous tracts of forest are probably unsuitable. Screech Owls seem to avoid coniferous woodlots.

During the day, Screech Owls roost in thick foliage or tree cavities; cavities are rarely used for daytime roosting until after the trees have lost their leaves in the fall. Barns and abandoned buildings, if present within an individual's home range, are regularly used for hunting and diurnal roosting. Nesting occurs in tree cavities or nest boxes. Screech Owls are generalists, preying upon whatever is available. Insects, mice and small birds are important prey items at different times of the year.

An absence from heavily forested regions is apparent; almost all records occur in regions of the state that are less than 50% forested.

In the southern Lower Peninsula, urbanization continues to have a negative impact. Parks and preserves that are established in developing suburban areas must contain woods plus nearby natural open areas to be of value to Screech Owls. In areas lacking natural cavities, nest boxes may increase populations. Forestry practices which remove snags including cutting for firewood, and the removal of large shade trees along rural roads continue to reduce nesting and roosting sites.

DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Breeding: Shade trees in towns, orchards, small woodlots and open woodlands. Wintering: Same as building habitat.

Special Habitat Requirements: Cavities for nesting and roosting in trees with a minimum dbh of 12 inches.

Kaufman, K. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 675 pp.

Habitat: Woodlands, farm groves, shade trees. Generally favors deciduous or mixed woods, but may be found in any habitat having some open ground and some large trees, from forest to isolated groves to suburban yards. May be absent from some areas because of lack of dead snags with suitable nesting holes.

Diet: Mostly large insects and small rodents. Wide variation in diet. Eats many beetles, moths, crickets, other large insects. Catches mice and other rodents, shrews, sometimes bats; also some small birds, lizards, frogs, spiders, earthworms, crayfish, many other small creatures. Some catch many small fish.

Nest: Site is in cavity in tree, including natural hollows and abandoned woodpecker holes; will also use artificial nest boxes. Usually 10-30 feet above ground, can be 5-80 feet up.