Montana Field Guide

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Montana Field Guides

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- Kingdom - Animals - Animalia
  - Phylum - Vertebrates - Craniata
    - Class - Birds - Aves
      - Order - Owls - Strigiformes
        
        Family - Owls - Strigidae
        
        Species - Eastern Screech-Owl - Megascops asio

Eastern Screech-Owl - Megascops asio

Potential Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S3S4
(see State Rank Reason below)

Agency Status
USFWS: MBTA
USFS:
BLM:
FWP SWAP: SGCN
PIF: 3

External Links

Listen to an Audio Sample

State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)

Species is uncommon within deciduous forest across central and eastern Montana. Current population trend is unknown, and it faces threats from loss of riparian habitat. Specifically impacts on cottonwood recruitment from damming and diverting water in river systems and conversion of forested areas to agriculture.

Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) Conservation Status Summary
State Rank: S3S4
Review Date = 11/14/2024
See the complete Conservation Status Rank Report

How we calculate Conservation Status Ranks

General Description

In the Eastern Screech-Owl, tufts are present, the eyes are yellow, the bill yellow-green or yellow-white. The facial disk is gray-white surrounded by black fringe. Ventrally, they are pale brown to whitish with scattered dark brown streaks extending from the chest along the sides and flanks. Dorsally, they are buffy-gray throughout. Also, Eastern Screech-Owls inhabiting deciduous forests of the eastern United States have a rufous (rust) color phase. A specimen of this color phase has yet to be secured in Montana. The size is eight to 10 inches. The weight is six to seven ounces. The voice has two parts. The first part is a quavering, drawn out ascending whistle, "Wheeeee" similar to a horse's whinny. The second part is a vibrating low whistle, "Quohohoho" run together. Calls are short.

For a comprehensive review of the conservation status, habitat use, and ecology of this and other Montana bird species, please see Marks et al. 2016, Birds of Montana.

Diagnostic Characteristics

The Western Screech-Owl is similar in size, although slightly larger. The Western Screech-Owl bill is black to gray-green or gray-black and the overall plumage is gray.

Species Range

Montana Range Range Descriptions

Year-round

Western Hemisphere Range

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database

Number of Observations: 515

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions

Relative Density

Recency

SUMMER (Feb 16 - Dec 14)

Direct Evidence of Breeding

Indirect Evidence of Breeding

No Evidence of Breeding

WINTER (Dec 15 - Feb 15)

Regularly Observed

Not Regularly Observed

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)

Migration

Eastern Screech-owls are resident throughout the year.

Habitat

Habitat is primarily cottonwood bottoms.

National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species

Forest and Woodland

Deciduous Forest and Woodland

Great Plains Aspen Forest and Woodland

Great Plains Mesic Forest and Woodland

Low Elevation - Xeric Forest and Woodland

Great Plains Ponderosa Pine Forest and Woodland

Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Forest and Woodland

Wetland and Riparian

Riparian and Wetland Forest

Great Plains Floodplain Forest

Lowland - Montane Riparian Deciduous Forest

Montane - Subalpine Riparian Forest

Montane Forested Wetland

Riparian Shrubland

Great Plains Floodplain Shrubland and Herbland

Lowland - Montane Riparian Shrubland

Montane - Subalpine Riparian and Seep Shrubland

Food Habits

Primarily small mammals and a few birds.

Ecology

Usually defends a permanent polyterritory (=2 nest-roost cavities and adjacent space) (Gehlbach 1995).

Reproductive Characteristics

Begins nesting in March. Nests in natural cavities or woodpecker holes. Clutch size three to seven. Incubation approximately 26 days. Young fledge at approximately 30 days. Young birds out of nest in July. Egg dates probably similar to those reported for WY (April) and Colorado (April 7 to May 6).

Management

Main requirement is a suitable cavity tree or substitute like a nest box (Gehlbach 1995).

Stewardship Responsibility

References

Literature Cited AboveLegend: View Online Publication
- Marks, J.S., P. Hendricks, and D. Casey. 2016. Birds of Montana. Arrington, VA. Buteo Books. 659 pages.
Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?
- Adam, C. I. G. 1987. Status of the eastern screech owl in Saskatchewan with reference to adjacent areas. Pages 268-276 in: B87NER01.
- American Ornithologists’ Union [AOU]. 1998. Check-list of North American birds, 7th edition. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C. 829 p.
- Call, M.W. 1979. Habitat management guides for birds of prey. Technical Note 338. Denver, CO: USDI Bureau of Land Management. 70 p.
- Cameron, E. S. 1907. The birds of Custer and Dawson counties, Montana. Auk 24(3): 241-270.
- Cameron, E. S. 1908. The birds of Custer and Dawson counties, Montana. Auk 25:39-56.
- Casey, D. 2000. Partners in Flight Draft Bird Conservation Plan Montana. Version 1.0. 287 pp.
- Decker Coal Co., 1981, Wildlife survey. July 7, 1981. In North Decker 5-Year Permit Application. Vol. III. Rule 26.4.304(12-14).
- Dorn, R.D. and J.L. Dorn. 1994. Further data on screech-owl distribution and habitat use in Wyoming. West. Birds 25:35-42.
- Ehrlich, P., D. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The birder’s handbook: a field guide to the natural history of North American birds. Simon and Schuster Inc. New York. 785 pp.
- Fitton, S. 1993. Screech-owl distribution in Wyoming. West. Birds 24:182-188.
- Gehlbach, F.R. 1995. Eastern Screech-owl (Megascops asio). Species Account Number 165. The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved 3/25/2008 from The Birds of North America Online database
- Hays, R., R.L. Eng, and C.V. Davis (preparers). 1984. A list of Montana birds. Helena, MT: MT Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
- Johnsgard, P.A. 1992. Birds of the Rocky Mountains with particular reference to national parks in the northern Rocky Mountain region. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. xi + 504 pp.
- Joslin, Gayle, and Heidi B. Youmans. 1999. Effects of recreation on Rocky Mountain wildlife: a review for Montana. [Montana]: Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
- Lenard, S., J. Carlson, J. Ellis, C. Jones, and C. Tilly. 2003. P. D. Skaar's Montana bird distribution, 6th edition. Montana Audubon, Helena, MT. 144 pp.
- Maxell, B.A. 2016. Northern Goshawk surveys on the Beartooth, Ashland, and Sioux Districts of the Custer-Gallatin National Forest: 2012-2014. Montana Natural Heritage Program. Helena, MT. 114pp.
- Montana Bird Distribution Committee. 2012. P.D. Skaar's Montana bird distribution. 7th Edition. Montana Audubon, Helena, Montana. 208 pp. + foldout map.
- Oechsli, L.M. 2000. Ex-urban development in the Rocky Mountain West: consequences for native vegetation, wildlife diversity, and land-use planning in Big Sky, Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Montana State University, Bozeman. 73 p.
- Phillips, R.L., A.H. Wheeler, N.C. Forrester, J.M. Lockhart, and T.P. McEneaney. 1990. Nesting ecology of golden eagles and other raptors in southeastern Montana and northern Wyoming. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Tech. Rep. 26:1-13.
- Rogers, Ralph R. 1998. A Survey of Forest-Dwelling Owls in the Judith Resource Area of Central Montana. A Report for the USDI BLM Judith Resource Area. 10 pp + tables.
- Sibley, D. 2014. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY. 598 pp.
- Skaar, P. D., D. L. Flath, and L. S. Thompson. 1985. Montana bird distribution. Montana Academy of Sciences Monograph 3(44): ii-69.
- Skaar, P.D. 1969. Birds of the Bozeman latilong: a compilation of data concerning the birds which occur between 45 and 46 N. latitude and 111 and 112 W. longitude, with current lists for Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, impinging Montana counties and Yellowstone National Park. Bozeman, MT. 132 p.
- Swan River National Wildlife Refuge. 1982. Birds of the Swan River NWR. Kalispell, MT: NW MT Fish and Wildlife Center pamphlet.
- U.S. Forest Service. 1991. Forest and rangeland birds of the United States: Natural history and habitat use. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Agricultural Handbook 688. 625 pages.
- Waldt, R. 1995. The Pine Butte Swamp Preserve bird list. Choteau, MT: The Nature Conservancy. Updated August 1995.
- Watts, C.R. and L.C. Eichhorn. 1981. Changes in the birds of central Montana. Proceedings of the Montana Academy of Sciences 40:31-40.
- Western Energy Co., Colstrip, MT., 1982, Western Energy Company Rosebud Mine, Colstrip, Montana: Annual Wildlife Report, 1982.
- Wright, P.L. 1996. Status of rare birds in Montana, with comments on known hybrids. Northwestern Naturalist 77(3):57-85.
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Citation for data on this website:
Eastern Screech-Owl — Megascops asio. Montana Field Guide. Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved on December 12, 2025, from https://FieldGuide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNSB01030