Eastern Screech-Owls in New Jersey
When eastern screech-owls are present in New Jersey, when they nest, which native New Jersey plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–7b yard.
- Status in New Jersey
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–May
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–7b
- Nest box
- 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft
When to expect eastern screech-owls in New Jersey
Eastern Screech-Owls live in New Jersey all year. Moderate winters; Cape May and the shore hold many half-hardy birds. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mice and roosting birds.
Humid continental to subtropical, from the Highlands in the north to the Pine Barrens and Cape May.
Nesting in New Jersey
Across New Jersey, 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; Cape May is a world-class migration funnel.
- 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 New Jersey plants that attract eastern screech-owls
Of the regional native plants we track for New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey's winter: Moderate winters; Cape May and the shore hold many half-hardy birds.
Frequently asked
Are eastern screech-owls in New Jersey year-round?
Yes. Eastern Screech-Owls are year-round residents in New Jersey.
When do eastern screech-owls nest in New Jersey?
Nesting in New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in New Jersey 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 New Jersey
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 — New Jersey
- 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.