Eastern Screech-Owl in August
Where eastern screech-owls are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Eastern Screech-Owl's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Eastern Screech-Owl specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 42 states and provinces where eastern screech-owls occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where eastern screech-owls are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, eastern screech-owls are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Eastern screech-owls are not nesting in August. The season runs March–May at mid-latitudes.
That makes August a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in August
- Moths, crickets and small rodents
Screech-owls roost in nest boxes by day; a box on a large tree 10–30 ft up is often used year after year.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Watching eastern screech-owls this month
Eastern screech-owls are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a Eastern Screech-Owl box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Eastern Screech-Owl month by month
Eastern Screech-Owl by state
Frequently asked
Where are eastern screech-owls in August?
In August, eastern screech-owls are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do eastern screech-owls nest in August?
No — eastern screech-owls typically nest March through May at mid-latitudes.
What do eastern screech-owls eat in August?
Moths, crickets and small rodents.
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
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.