SARA Threatened Species
Life stages observable in the winter: adult pairs courting in advance of breeding season

What’s that sound? It’s the Western Screech-Owl’s courtship calls echoing through the forest during the winter. With its small size and camouflage colours, you might just miss this owl if you’re not looking closely enough. The Western Screech-Owl has bright yellow eyes, a small beak, black eyebrows, and short “ear” feathers. Their feathers are white to pale grey with streaks of black and brown, which help them blend into the forest habitat they call home.

The Western Screech-Owl roosts and nests in tree trunks and tree cavities, as well as nest boxes. A nest box is a human-made enclosure specially-designed for a species to nest in. Nest boxes are important structures for Western Screech-Owls as natural habitat declines due to removal of suitable nest trees, deforestation, and development.

These owls can also be found in habitats close to wetlands, fields, and treed urban and suburban areas. Western Screech-Owl’s prey on small animals, including mice, birds, frogs, and insects.

How to Help the Western Screech-Owl

• Protect roosts, perch sites, and nests for the Western Screech-Owl by preserving trees, alive and in all stages of decay, and particularly snags with cavities that provide perfect nest sites for these owls.

If you observe a Western Screech-Owl, enjoy from a distance. Contribute your observations through iNaturalist, eBird, Merlin, or by sending an email to SAR@islandstrust.bc.ca.