Diet
What do western screech-owls eat?
Insects, mice and small birds taken at night.
Owls (Strigidae)Western Screech-OwlMegascops kennicottii
Spring and summer diet
- Moths, beetles, crickets and mice
Fall and winter diet
- Mice and roosting small birds
Best feeder foods
- None — a nest box and mature trees are the draw
Roosts in cavities and nest boxes by day; a screech-owl box in a shady tree is often occupied.
Where western screech-owls need winter food
Regions where western screech-owls are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do western screech-owls eat?
Insects, mice and small birds taken at night.
What is the best food to feed western screech-owls?
None — a nest box and mature trees are the draw.
What do western screech-owls eat in winter?
Mice and roosting small birds.
Sources
- Western Screech-Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Screech-Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Screech-Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
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.