Western Screech-Owls don't actually screech — their main call is a series of accelerating short whistles, often described as a 'bouncing ball'.
They're nocturnal hunters but occasionally take prey by daylight in shaded canyons.
They were considered the same species as the Eastern Screech-Owl until 1983, when they were split based on voice and DNA.
Western Screech-Owls use nest boxes readily in wooded yards. They're already living in many western neighborhoods.
Mount a 3" hole box 10–20 ft up on a mature tree, ideally near water (creek, pond, large yard with regular watering).
They hunt their own — rodents, insects, small birds. No feeders.
Mature trees, dense ivy on tree trunks, or shaded shrubs for daytime roosting.
European Starlings; consider starling-resistant entrances.
Don't disturb a roosting owl; they can abandon eggs or chicks.
A small western forest owl found from southern Alaska to central Mexico.
Resident from coastal Alaska south through BC, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Year-round throughout the Rockies, Great Basin, and Southwest.
Resident in pine-oak forest through central Mexico.
Riparian forest, oak woodland, lower-elevation pine, and suburban yards with mature trees. Often found near water.
Same setup as Eastern Screech — year-round resident in suburban habitat.