Eastern Screech Owl

Recognition
A smallish owl about 8 to 9 inches in height. Its prominent features are its ears and its grey coloration containing some white streaks. The eyes are piercing yellow.

Where seen
The photograph below was taken in Back Bend in OBV by Wayne Doherty. They can be seen throughout OBV even in daylight, perched motionless in trees but you have to look carefully.

Jimmy’s notes
Often heard but not seen. The sound is an eerie high pitched trill. Is more vocal prior to the breeding season when taking up a territory. The Eastern screech owl is one of the few birds that can have more than one main color and as such this species come in grey or red-brown morphs. Like most owls, they tend to stay in the same area.