Eastern Screech-Owls in South Carolina
When eastern screech-owls are present in South Carolina, when they nest, which native South Carolina plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.
- Status in South Carolina
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- February–May
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
- Nest box
- 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft
When to expect eastern screech-owls in South Carolina
Eastern Screech-Owls live in South Carolina all year. Mild winters; Lowcountry backyards host Painted Buntings in summer and many sparrows in winter. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mice and roosting birds.
Humid subtropical, from the Blue Ridge foothills to the Lowcountry marshes.
Nesting in South Carolina
Across South Carolina, 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.
Hot, humid summers.
- 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 South Carolina plants that attract eastern screech-owls
Of the regional native plants we track for South Carolina, 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.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding eastern screech-owls through the South Carolina 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 South Carolina's winter: Mild winters; Lowcountry backyards host Painted Buntings in summer and many sparrows in winter.
Frequently asked
Are eastern screech-owls in South Carolina year-round?
Yes. Eastern Screech-Owls are year-round residents in South Carolina.
When do eastern screech-owls nest in South Carolina?
Nesting in South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, Tall goldenrod are native plants in South Carolina 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 South Carolina
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 — South Carolina
- 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.