To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of screech owl
1 : barn owl
2 : any of various New World owls (genus Otus) especially : either of two small owls (O. asio of eastern North America and O. kennicottii of western North America) with a pair of tufts of lengthened feathers on the head resembling ears
Illustration of screech owl
screech owl 2
Examples of screech owl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web These Eastern screech owls were brought into AWARE after it's believed they were hit by cars.
—
Amy Chillag, CNN, "Millions of wild animals are killed or injured unintentionally each year in the US and here's how you can help," 17 Mar. 2020 When Multnomah County Animal Services arrived on the scene, the rescuers bundled up the adult Western screech owl and took it to Portland Audubon for treatment.
—
oregonlive, "Portland police officer rescues injured owl from crow attack, stands guard until more help arrives," 11 Oct. 2019 On Saturdays, from June 2 to Saturday, June 30, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., meet two of North America’s smallest birds of prey: the American kestreland and the eastern screech owl.
—
Sara Ervin Walser, Laurel Leader, "Spring into outdoor events at Patuxent Wildlife Visitor Center [South Laurel/Montpelier]," 17 May 2018 Meet two of North America’s smallest birds of prey: the American kestrel and eastern screech owl.
—
Sara Ervin Walser, Laurel Leader, "Nature programs at Patuxent Research in full swing [South Laurel/Montpelier]," 28 June 2018 Come prepared for a walk in the woodlands of Wehr in search for the great horned owl and Eastern screech owl.
—
Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Weekend guide: 'The Cat in the Hat' at First Stage and Winterfest at the Botanical Gardens," 17 Jan. 2018 And the screech owl’s song is described as either a trill or whiny.
—
Brian E. Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Winter birding in Wisconsin delivers sightings of snowy owls, eagles and more," 16 Feb. 2018 About that Latin name: the genus name Aegolius is a type of screech owl thought to be a bird of ill omen.
—
Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, "During long summer days in Alaska, Boreal owls perform by daylight," 30 June 2018 Both expert hunters, the American kestrel uses its acrobatic prowess, while the eastern screech owl is a stealthy silent hunter.
—
Sara Ervin Walser, Laurel Leader, "Nature programs at Patuxent Research in full swing [South Laurel/Montpelier]," 28 June 2018
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'screech owl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on screech owl
What made you want to look up screech owl? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share screech owl
Time Traveler for screech owl
The first known use of screech owl was in 1567
See more words from the same year