Nest box specification

Eastern Screech-Owl house dimensions

The Eastern Screech-Owl nests in tree cavity or nest box with wood-chip base A box built to its measurements — and no bigger — is what makes it choose yours.

Owls (Strigidae)Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio

The specifications

Entrance hole: 3 in
Floor (inside): 8 × 8 in
Mounting height: 10–30 ft
Bird size: 6.3–9.8 in, 4.3–8.6 oz
Clutch: 2–6 eggs
Incubation: 26–34 days
Time in nest: about 28 days
Broods: 1 per season

Build and mounting checklist

Drill the entrance to exactly 3 in — oversized holes let in European Starlings and larger predators.
No outside perch: cavity nesters don't need one, and it helps House Sparrows and predators.
Unpainted interior, 3/4-inch untreated wood (cedar or pine) or poly-lumber for insulation.
Drainage holes in the floor corners and ventilation gaps under the roof.
A side or front panel that opens so you can monitor and clean the box.
Rough or grooved inner front wall so nestlings can climb out.
Pole mount with a stovepipe or cone baffle to stop snakes, raccoons and cats.

When to put up a Eastern Screech-Owl box, by state

Boxes should be up and clean a month before local nesting starts. Dates shift with latitude:

Place	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
Alabama	January	February–May	June
Florida	January	February–May	June
Georgia	January	February–May	June
Louisiana	January	February–May	June
Mississippi	January	February–May	June
South Carolina	January	February–May	June
Texas	January	February–May	June
Arkansas	February	March–May	June
Colorado	February	March–May	June
Connecticut	February	March–May	June
Delaware	February	March–May	June
Illinois	February	March–May	June
Indiana	February	March–May	June
Iowa	February	March–May	June
Kansas	February	March–May	June
Kentucky	February	March–May	June
Maryland	February	March–May	June
Massachusetts	February	March–May	June
Michigan	February	March–May	June
Missouri	February	March–May	June
Nebraska	February	March–May	June
New Jersey	February	March–May	June
New York	February	March–May	June
North Carolina	February	March–May	June
Ohio	February	March–May	June
Oklahoma	February	March–May	June
Pennsylvania	February	March–May	June
Rhode Island	February	March–May	June
South Dakota	February	March–May	June
Tennessee	February	March–May	June
Virginia	February	March–May	June
West Virginia	February	March–May	June
Maine	March	April–May	June
Minnesota	March	April–May	June
Montana	March	April–May	June
New Hampshire	March	April–May	June
North Dakota	March	April–May	June
Ontario	March	April–May	June
Quebec	March	April–May	June
Vermont	March	April–May	June
Wisconsin	March	April–May	June
Wyoming	March	April–May	June

Full Eastern Screech-Owl species guide →

Frequently asked

What size hole does a Eastern Screech-Owl need?

3 in. A hole cut to this size admits the Eastern Screech-Owl (6.3–9.8 in) while keeping out larger competitors.

How big should a Eastern Screech-Owl house be inside?

A floor of 8 × 8 in. The Eastern Screech-Owl lays 2–6 eggs, so the floor has to hold the full clutch plus growing nestlings.

How high should I mount a Eastern Screech-Owl box?

10–30 ft. Mount on a pole with a predator baffle where possible rather than a tree or fence.

How long does a Eastern Screech-Owl use the box?

Incubation takes 26–34 days and the young stay in the nest about 28 days. Broods per year: 1 per season.

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.