Western Screech Owl

Megascops kennicottii

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesForestCavity nestMedium · 142 g

What the Western Screech Owl sounds like

Sonogram of the Western Screech Owl: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by steve · Song · Tambobiche, Loreto Municipality, Baja California Sur, Mexico · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Western Screech Owl: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by FR · Call · Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

Length averages 22 cm (8.7 in), wingspan 55 cm (22 in), and weight 143 g (5.0 oz). Weight ranges from 88 to 220 g (3.1 to 7.8 oz). Females are larger than males and northern populations are notably larger than southern populations. Adults are larger than whiskered screech owls, with larger feet and a more streaked plumage pattern. There are several morphs: brown Pacific, grey Pacific, Great Plains, Mojave, and Mexican. All have either brown or dark gray plumage with streaking on the underparts. There is no red morph. Voice: The primary call is an accelerating series of short whistles at an increasing tempo or a short then long trill falling slightly at end. Other calls: barking and chuckling, similar to the eastern screech owl. They also make a high pitched screech. The two primary songs for the Western Screech Owl are the bounce and double trill.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Western Screech Owl

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Western Screech Owl

Regular range

The map shades 3 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Western Screech Owl

The western screech owl is a small owl native to North and Central America, closely related to the eastern screech owl. The scientific name commemorates the American naturalist Robert Kennicott.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Eastern Screech Owl vs Western Screech Owl · Tropical Screech Owl vs Western Screech Owl · Western Screech Owl vs Whiskered Screech Owl · Tawny-bellied Screech Owl vs Western Screech Owl

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