Eastern Screech-Owls in Iowa
When eastern screech-owls are present in Iowa, when they nest, which native Iowa plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–6a yard.
- Status in Iowa
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–May
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–6a
- Nest box
- 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft
When to expect eastern screech-owls in Iowa
Eastern Screech-Owls live in Iowa all year. Cold, windy winters; open farmland makes backyard shelter and feeders a lifeline. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mice and roosting birds.
Humid continental prairie state, with loess hills in the west and the Driftless Area in the northeast.
Nesting in Iowa
Across Iowa, 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.
Hot, humid summers with thunderstorms.
- 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 Iowa plants that attract eastern screech-owls
Of the regional native plants we track for Iowa, these 8 provide food or cover eastern screech-owls use:
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding eastern screech-owls through the Iowa 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 Iowa's winter: Cold, windy winters; open farmland makes backyard shelter and feeders a lifeline.
Frequently asked
Are eastern screech-owls in Iowa year-round?
Yes. Eastern Screech-Owls are year-round residents in Iowa.
When do eastern screech-owls nest in Iowa?
Nesting in Iowa 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 Iowa?
Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Iowa 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 Iowa
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 — Iowa
- 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.