If a mysterious trill catches your attention in the night, bear in mind the spooky sound may come from an owl no bigger than a pint glass. The Eastern Screech-Owl is a short, stocky bird, with a large head and almost no neck. Pointed ear tufts are often raised, lending its head a distinctive silhouette. Whatever the overall color, they are patterned with complex bands and spots that give the bird excellent camouflage against tree bark. Eyes are yellow.
Red and gray individuals occur across the range of the Eastern Screech-Owl, with about one-third of all individuals being red. The Eastern Screech-Owl is known to eat a variety of songbirds, including the European Starling.
"Both of these Eastern Screech-Owls were located in barns near Burkes Garden, VA."
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