Otus kennicottii
Despite its small size, the Western Screech-Owl is a mighty hunter. It has the most varied diet of any North American owl: it preys on everything from insects that it catches in mid-air to doves and pigeons that nearly outweigh it. Western Screech-Owls are silent and reclusive by day; they roost tucked up on limbs or within dense shrubs in a maze of branches. Where Western Screech-Owls are present, they are year-round residents. It is only from May to March, however, that they are most often encountered. This owl's whistle curls through both natural and suburban woodlots at this time, revealing this small, nocturnal bird. Robert Kennicott, for whom this species is scientifically named, traveled and collected through northern Canada and Alaska. Like so many of the early field naturalists, his life was short: he died at the age of 30. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: ear tufts; heavy, vertical breast streaks; yellow eyes; dark bill. Size: L 7-11 in. (18-28 cm); W 18-24 in. (46-61 cm). Range: uncommon resident in Glacier and Waterton Lakes NPs; uncommon to common in the western Rockies in Utah, Idaho and B; locally common in western Montana; rare elsewhere in the Rockies. Habitat: open deciduous woodlands and riparian forests with a dense understorey, mostly in the foothills. Nesting: in abandoned woodpecker cavities, magpie nests, nest boxes and natural cavities; adds no nesting materials; female incubates 2-5 white eggs for up to 34 days. Feeding: hunts at night; swoops from a perch, often in a forest; eats invertebrates, mice, voles, amphibians, earthworms and songbirds; can capture animals larger than itself. Voice: series of soft, accelerating, evenly pitched whistles and notes, with a rhythm like that of a bouncing ball coming to a stop. Similar Species: Great Horned Owl: much larger; horizontal breast banding. Long-eared Owl: ear tufts are very close together; body is compressed. Northern Saw-whet Owl and Boreal Owl: no ear tufts. |
