Western Screech-Owl

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'''Scientific Name:''' Megascops kennicottii
'''Scientific Name:''' Megascops kennicottii
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'''Size:''' Males 8 ¼ inches (22 cm); wingspan: 21 inches (54 cm)
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'''Size:''' Males 8 ¼ inches (22 cm); '''Wingspan:''' 21 inches (54 cm)
'''Habitat:''' North America. This owl is resident from south-coastal and extreme southeastern Alaska, coastal (excluding Queen Charlotte Islands) and southern British Columbia, northern Idaho, western Montana, northwestern Wyoming, Colorado, extreme western Oklahoma, and western Texas south to Baja California.
'''Habitat:''' North America. This owl is resident from south-coastal and extreme southeastern Alaska, coastal (excluding Queen Charlotte Islands) and southern British Columbia, northern Idaho, western Montana, northwestern Wyoming, Colorado, extreme western Oklahoma, and western Texas south to Baja California.
Western Screech Owls inhabit a wide variety of habitats. On the northwest coast, they are found in humid Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, and Sitka spruce forests along the edges of clearings, rivers, and lakes. Further inland they occupy a narrow ecological niche of lowland deciduous forests, especially riparian woodlands along river bottoms. Southern populations inhabit lowland riparian forests, oak-filled arroyos, desert saguaro and cardon cacti stands, Joshua tree and mesquite groves, and open pine and pinyon-juniper forests. They avoid dense forests because Great Horned Owls use that habitat, and high elevation forests. In general, they require open forests, with an abundance of small mammals and insect prey, and cavities for nesting. They roost mainly in natural or woodpecker cavities in large trees, but also in dense foliage of deciduous trees, usually on a branch next to the trunk, or in dense conifers.
Western Screech Owls inhabit a wide variety of habitats. On the northwest coast, they are found in humid Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, and Sitka spruce forests along the edges of clearings, rivers, and lakes. Further inland they occupy a narrow ecological niche of lowland deciduous forests, especially riparian woodlands along river bottoms. Southern populations inhabit lowland riparian forests, oak-filled arroyos, desert saguaro and cardon cacti stands, Joshua tree and mesquite groves, and open pine and pinyon-juniper forests. They avoid dense forests because Great Horned Owls use that habitat, and high elevation forests. In general, they require open forests, with an abundance of small mammals and insect prey, and cavities for nesting. They roost mainly in natural or woodpecker cavities in large trees, but also in dense foliage of deciduous trees, usually on a branch next to the trunk, or in dense conifers.
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'''Status:''' Least Concern. Global population: 700,000. Western Screech Owls are dependent on deciduous woodlands or open mixed forests that have suitable nesting sites and sufficient prey densities. Removal of riparian forest in drier regions will cause population declines because most densities are highest in riparian zones. However, this adaptable Owl can survive in wooded suburban areas and city parks. The removal of dead and dying trees will eliminate this bird as a breeding species from local areas.
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'''Status:''' Least Concern. '''Global population:''' 700,000. Western Screech Owls are dependent on deciduous woodlands or open mixed forests that have suitable nesting sites and sufficient prey densities. Removal of riparian forest in drier regions will cause population declines because most densities are highest in riparian zones. However, this adaptable Owl can survive in wooded suburban areas and city parks. The removal of dead and dying trees will eliminate this bird as a breeding species from local areas.
'''Diet:''' Favorite foods include small rodents such as shrews, kangaroo rats, deer and pocket mice), larger insects (including beetles, larval moths & butterflies), or small birds depending on abundance.  
'''Diet:''' Favorite foods include small rodents such as shrews, kangaroo rats, deer and pocket mice), larger insects (including beetles, larval moths & butterflies), or small birds depending on abundance.  
Adults tend to remain near their breeding areas year-round while juveniles disperse in the autumn. Small territories around nest sites are vigorously defended by males. In desert riparian areas of the southwest, where these Owls can be quite numerous, territories may be only 50 meters (165 feet) apart. Home ranges are much larger, and range from 3 to 60 hectares (7.5 to 150 acres), but these are not defended and there is much overlap between pairs.
Adults tend to remain near their breeding areas year-round while juveniles disperse in the autumn. Small territories around nest sites are vigorously defended by males. In desert riparian areas of the southwest, where these Owls can be quite numerous, territories may be only 50 meters (165 feet) apart. Home ranges are much larger, and range from 3 to 60 hectares (7.5 to 150 acres), but these are not defended and there is much overlap between pairs.
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'''Cool Facts:'''  The western Screech Owl was first discovered in 1867. The species name "kennicotti," was created to honor Robert Kennicott, an American explorer and naturalist (1835-1866) and was originally called "Kennicott's Owl".
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'''Cool Facts:'''  The western Screech Owl was first discovered in 1867. The species name "''kennicotti''" was created to honor Robert Kennicott, an American explorer and naturalist (1835-1866) and was originally called "Kennicott's Owl".
There is much individual variation within the two color morphs. In the gray-phase, birds in the dry southwest are a paler gray, while birds in the humid northwest are darker and browner. The red-phase is very rare and found only in the Pacific Northwest.
There is much individual variation within the two color morphs. In the gray-phase, birds in the dry southwest are a paler gray, while birds in the humid northwest are darker and browner. The red-phase is very rare and found only in the Pacific Northwest.
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'''Found in [http://hivewire3d.com/songbird-remix-owls.html Songbird ReMix Owls]'''
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'''Found in [http://hivewire3d.com/songbird-remix-owls.html Songbird ReMix Owls of the World Volume 1]'''

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