Screech owls are small owls found throughout most of North America. They get their name from their eerie, shrill calls that can be heard at night. Screech owls nest in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes and lay eggs once a year. The breeding season for screech owls depends on the location but is generally in late winter or early spring.
How Many Eggs Do Screech Owls Lay?
Screech owls usually lay between 3 to 7 eggs per clutch. The average is about 4-5 eggs. The eggs are smooth, glossy, and white. Screech owl eggs are oval or elliptical in shape and about 1.5 inches long. The female owl will start incubating the eggs as soon as the first one is laid. This helps synchronize the hatching. The eggs hatch after about 26 days of incubation.
How Often Do Screech Owls Have Broods?
Screech owls typically only have one brood per year. They do not lay more than one clutch of eggs in a single breeding season. However, if something happens to the first clutch, like predation or damage to the nest site, the female may lay another clutch as a replacement. But screech owls do not regularly produce multiple broods in a season like some other bird species do.
When Does Screech Owl Breeding Season Occur?
The breeding season for screech owls depends on their geographic location:
Southern Range
In the southern parts of their range, screech owls may start nesting as early as late December or January. The breeding season lasts through March in southern states like Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
Northern Range
Farther north, screech owls begin laying eggs later in the year. In mid to northern states, the breeding season is February through May. Even later, screech owls in Canada and Alaska nest from March to June.
Year-round
In some southern regions like central Florida and the Gulf Coast, screech owls may nest nearly year-round. But they still only produce one brood at a time, not multiple clutches. Their breeding is just not restricted to a narrow seasonal window in the warmest areas.
Do Both Parents Incubate and Care for the Young?
Yes, both male and female screech owls help incubate the eggs and raise the young. The female begins incubating the eggs as soon as the first one is laid while the male brings her food. He will also help incubate the eggs for brief periods, allowing the female to take short breaks.
Once the eggs hatch, both parents hunt and bring food back to the nest. The young screech owls leave the nest at about 4 weeks old but cannot fly well at that point. The parents continue to care for them and provide food for several more weeks as they learn to hunt on their own. The young owls disperse and set out on their own 10-12 weeks after hatching.
What Factors Influence Screech Owl Breeding?
Several factors impact screech owl breeding activity and success rates:
Prey Availability
Adequate food supply is key for the energy-demanding process of reproduction. When rodent populations decline, screech owls may produce fewer eggs. Good prey availability in early spring helps ensure healthy broods.
Nest Site Competition
Lack of available nesting cavities may limit breeding. Screech owls compete for tree cavities and old woodpecker holes with other species. When natural nest sites are scarce, they struggle to find suitable places to raise young.
Weather
Extreme cold, storms, or drought during the breeding season can lead to nest failure. Incubating females are sensitive to excessive rain or drought that affects prey populations. Ideal weather consists of relatively mild, dry springtime conditions.
Age and Experience
Older, more experienced breeders tend to begin nesting earlier and lay larger clutches than younger first-time breeders. Nest success also improves with age as parents become more adept hunters and nurturers.
How Do Screech Owls Care for Eggs and Young?
Screech owls exhibit a high level of parental care:
Incubation
The female incubates the eggs for about 26 days before they hatch. She sits tightly on the eggs, leaving only for very brief periods to eat prey brought by the male. Her body heat keeps the eggs at the proper temperature for development.
Brooding
After the eggs hatch, the female continues to provide warmth to the helpless owlets. Both parents shelter and brood the young under their wings for warmth and protection for the first couple weeks.
Feeding
The adult screech owls supply the young with regurgitated prey items. A single nest may require several hundred rodents provided by the hunting parents until the owlets are old enough to leave the nest at about 4 weeks old.
Nest Defense
Screech owl parents are very defensive of the nest and will harass, attack, and attempt to lure predators away. This protects the eggs and nestlings from harm. Both the male and female participate in aggressive nest defense.
Fledging
Even after leaving the nest, the fledglings cannot fly well at first and remain dependent on the parents. The adults continue bringing food and teaching owlets to hunt while still protecting them from predators. This care lasts for several more weeks until independence.
Conclusion
In summary, screech owls generally produce just one clutch per year of 3-7 eggs during the late winter/early spring breeding season. Exact timing depends on their geographic range. Both parents share incubation and care of the high-maintenance young for nearly 3 months until they fledge from the nest and eventually disperse. Adequate food supply, nesting sites, mild weather, and experienced breeders help ensure breeding success. With dedicated biparental care, screech owls are exemplary parents, skillfully raising young even under harsh conditions. Their intricate breeding strategies keep screech owl populations stable across their range.
