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Screech Like a Banshee

© Mary M. Alward

Have you ever heard the term, "screech like a banshee?" This phrase is often used when describing the screech owl. Though this article focuses mainly on eastern screech owls, it has a small bit of information on other owls, such as the western screech owl, owls in general and the great-horned owls.

The eastern screech owl is one of the smallest owls in the world. It measures 7 to 10 inches, weighs 4 to 6 ounces and has a wing span of 18 to 24 inches. It lives in open woods and urban areas where shade trees are plentiful. It usually lives three to eight years in the wild, but can live up to twelve years in captivity. It ranges from the southern part of Canada all the way to northeastern Mexico. It lives in all states east of the Mississippi River, but is not found in northern Maine. It has been spotted as far west as Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

Eastern screech owls have yellow eyes and prominent tufts of feathers on top of its head, which are often mistaken for ears. These owls have two distinct color phases - red and gray. The difference is much like our hair color. It has nothing to do with age or sex, but has more to do with genetics. Eastern screech owls are often incorrectly identified as baby great-horned owls, because of their size.

Screech owls are named for their call. According to folklore, the call of a screech owl means someone is going to die. This is merely superstition. In fact, screech owls have two distinct calls. One is a mournful wailing, sometimes referred to as "the screech of a banshee." The second is a plaintive, tremulous whistle that follows the first call. Screech owls are monogamous and mate for life. They call in synchronized duets and bond by preening each other and rubbing the facial area of their mate. Their territory is small, but they defend it ferociously. They are fiercely aggressive when taking prey. These traits have earned them the nickname, "feathered wildcat."

Screech owls, like all species of owls have 14 vertebrae in their neck. Humans have seven, like all mammals, except two. Owls can turn their heads three quarters of the way around in either direction. This is because their eyes are so big that there is no room in their skulls for muscles to move them. Owls have to turn their heads to focus on a certain spot or object.

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