Maine · Year-round resident

Eastern Screech-Owls in Maine

When eastern screech-owls are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.

Owls (Strigidae)Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio

Status in Maine: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–May
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–6b
Nest box: 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft

When to expect eastern screech-owls in Maine

Eastern Screech-Owls live in Maine all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years. 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 a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.

Nesting in Maine

Across Maine, eastern screech-owls typically nest from April–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.

Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — 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 Maine plants that attract eastern screech-owls

Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover eastern screech-owls use:

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Feeding eastern screech-owls through the Maine 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 Maine's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years.

Full diet breakdown for eastern screech-owls

Frequently asked

Are eastern screech-owls in Maine year-round?

Yes. Eastern Screech-Owls are year-round residents in Maine.

When do eastern screech-owls nest in Maine?

Nesting in Maine typically runs April–May, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 26–34 days.

What native plants attract eastern screech-owls in Maine?

Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Maine 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.

Sources

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.