Quebec · Year-round resident

Eastern Screech-Owls in Quebec

When eastern screech-owls are present in Quebec, when they nest, which native Quebec plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–5b yard.

Owls (Strigidae)Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio

Status in Quebec: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–May
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–5b
Nest box: 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft

When to expect eastern screech-owls in Quebec

Eastern Screech-Owls live in Quebec all year. Long, cold, snowy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mice and roosting birds.

Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.

Nesting in Quebec

Across Quebec, 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.

Warm, humid summers in the south.

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 Quebec plants that attract eastern screech-owls

Of the regional native plants we track for Quebec, 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.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Feeding eastern screech-owls through the Quebec 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 Quebec's winter: Long, cold, snowy winters.

Full diet breakdown for eastern screech-owls

Frequently asked

Are eastern screech-owls in Quebec year-round?

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

When do eastern screech-owls nest in Quebec?

Nesting in Quebec 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 Quebec?

Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine are native plants in Quebec 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.