Idaho · Year-round resident

Western Screech-Owls in Idaho

When western screech-owls are present in Idaho, when they nest, which native Idaho plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.

Owls (Strigidae)Western Screech-OwlMegascops kennicottii

Status in Idaho: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–7b
Nest box: 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft

When to expect western screech-owls in Idaho

Western Screech-Owls live in Idaho all year. Cold winters with inversions in the valleys; mountain finches and Bohemian Waxwings move into towns. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Semi-arid sagebrush plains along the Snake River and forested mountains to the north and center.

Nesting in Idaho

Across Idaho, western screech-owls typically nest from March–June. Plan around that window: February for setup, June for clean-out.

Hot, dry summers in the Snake River Plain and cool mountain summers.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — western 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 June.

Native Idaho plants that attract western screech-owls

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

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Common hackberry

Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding western screech-owls through the Idaho year

Top foods: None — a nest box and mature trees are the draw.
In Idaho's winter: Cold winters with inversions in the valleys; mountain finches and Bohemian Waxwings move into towns.

Full diet breakdown for western screech-owls · Best feeder for western screech-owls

Frequently asked

Are western screech-owls in Idaho year-round?

Yes. Western Screech-Owls are year-round residents in Idaho.

When do western screech-owls nest in Idaho?

Nesting in Idaho typically runs March–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 1–7 eggs, incubated for 21–30 days.

What native plants attract western screech-owls in Idaho?

Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Common hackberry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Idaho that provide food or cover for western screech-owls.

What size birdhouse hole do western screech-owls need?

3 in, with a floor of 8 × 8 in mounted 10–30 ft.

Western Screech-Owls in other regions

Alberta Arizona British Columbia California Colorado Montana Nevada New Mexico Oregon Texas Utah Washington Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Idaho

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

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.