Life-sized Eastern Screech Owl
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This Life-sized Eastern Screech Owl carving was hand-crafted from solid Basswood. The Eastern Screech Owl, like the Western and Whiskered Screech-Owls, is small, with yellow eyes and has a pale bill tip; the bill base is yellow-green. The ear tufts are prominent if raised; when flattened, the bird has a round-headed look. The under-parts are marked by vertical streaks crossed by dark bars which are spaced well apart and are nearly as wide as the vertical streaks. Markings are less distinct on the Eastern rufous morph which pre-dominates in the South, the gray morph on the Great Plains and in southernmost Texas. The lightest and whitest, maxwelliae race is found in the northwestern part of the range. Eastern Screech Owls are common in a wide variety of habitats: woodlots, forests, swamps, orchards, parks and suburban gardens. Nocturnal and best located by the voice. Two typical calls: a series of quavering whistles, descending in pitch; and a long single trill, all on one pitch. Formerly classified with the Western Screech-Owl as one species, the range separation is not yet fully known. Both species are found at Big Bend National Park in Texas: The Western species is uncommon, the Eastern is rare and may not have been recorded recently . Accidental to southeastern New Mexico.
Reference
National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds of North America, Fifth Edition, Page 260
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