Eastern Screech-Owls in Florida
When eastern screech-owls are present in Florida, when they nest, which native Florida plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 8a–11b yard.
- Status in Florida
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- February–May
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 8a–11b
- Nest box
- 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft
When to expect eastern screech-owls in Florida
Eastern Screech-Owls live in Florida all year. Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mice and roosting birds.
Humid subtropical in the north to tropical in the Keys; a wet summer and a dry winter season.
Nesting in Florida
Across Florida, eastern screech-owls typically nest from February–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.
Heat, humidity and summer storms: boxes need drainage holes, ventilation and shade, and nectar spoils fast.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before January — 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 Florida plants that attract eastern screech-owls
Of the regional native plants we track for Florida, these 8 provide food or cover eastern screech-owls use:
Acorns and insect-rich bark.
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.
Feeding eastern screech-owls through the Florida 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 Florida's winter: Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October.
Frequently asked
Are eastern screech-owls in Florida year-round?
Yes. Eastern Screech-Owls are year-round residents in Florida.
When do eastern screech-owls nest in Florida?
Nesting in Florida typically runs February–May, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 26–34 days.
What native plants attract eastern screech-owls in Florida?
Southern live oak, Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush are native plants in Florida 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 Florida
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 — Florida
- 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.