Eastern Screech-Owls in Connecticut
When eastern screech-owls are present in Connecticut, when they nest, which native Connecticut plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7b yard.
- Status in Connecticut
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–May
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7b
- Nest box
- 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft
When to expect eastern screech-owls in Connecticut
Eastern Screech-Owls live in Connecticut all year. Snowy winters with regular nor'easters; feeders carry chickadees, titmice and juncos through January and February. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mice and roosting birds.
Humid continental with maritime moderation along Long Island Sound.
Nesting in Connecticut
Across Connecticut, eastern screech-owls typically nest from March–May. Nest site: tree cavity or nest box with wood-chip base. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 26–34 days, and young leave the nest after about 28 days.
Warm, humid summers; peak nesting runs May through July.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — eastern screech-owls begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 3 in entrance on a 8 × 8 in floor, mounted 10–30 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after May.
Native Connecticut plants that attract eastern screech-owls
Of the regional native plants we track for Connecticut, these 8 provide food or cover eastern screech-owls use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding eastern screech-owls through the Connecticut year
Screech-owls roost in nest boxes by day; a box on a large tree 10–30 ft up is often used year after year.
- Best foods: .
- In Connecticut's winter: Snowy winters with regular nor'easters; feeders carry chickadees, titmice and juncos through January and February.
Frequently asked
Are eastern screech-owls in Connecticut year-round?
Yes. Eastern Screech-Owls are year-round residents in Connecticut.
When do eastern screech-owls nest in Connecticut?
Nesting in Connecticut typically runs March–May, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 26–34 days.
What native plants attract eastern screech-owls in Connecticut?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Connecticut that provide food or cover for eastern screech-owls.
What size birdhouse hole do eastern screech-owls need?
3 in, with a floor of 8 × 8 in mounted 10–30 ft.
Eastern Screech-Owls in other regions
Other backyard birds in Connecticut
Sources
- Eastern Screech-Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Screech-Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Screech-Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Connecticut
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.