Photo: Randy R. Magnuson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Screech Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) — Owls of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 142 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Megascops
- Species kennicottii
Where it lives
Western, southern Alaska to southern Mexico
Quick facts
- Weight
- 142 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Western Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Western Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA w, s Alaska to s Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 142 g, with a wing length of about 17.7 cm and a tail of around 8.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Screech Owl?
The Western Screech Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 142 g.
Where does the Western Screech Owl live?
The Western Screech Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA w, s Alaska to s Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Western Screech Owl belong to?
The Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Western Screech Owl eat?
The Western Screech Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Western Screech Owl migrate?
The Western Screech Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Western Screech Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Western Screech Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Western Screech Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Western Screech Owl's range?
The Western Screech Owl has a mapped global range of about 3.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Strigidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Owls
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.