screech owl

noun

|Updated on: 23 Jul 2018

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

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Recent Examples of screech owl from the Web

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
Both expert hunters, the American kestrel uses its acrobatic prowess, while the eastern screech owl is a stealthy silenthunter.

— sara ervin walser, Laurel Leader, "Spring into outdoor events at Patuxent Wildlife Visitor Center [South Laurel/Montpelier]," 17 May 2018
The one that's easiest to attract is the screech owl, says Bancroft.

— leah zerbe, Good Housekeeping, "How To Attract Owls To Your Backyard," 14 Aug. 2015
The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey placed an Eastern screech owl that was found with a fractured wing after Hurricane Irma with SeaWorld Orlando.

— david whitley, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Hurricane Irma survivor Irma the owl finds home at SeaWorld," 24 Apr. 2018
This also will become the home for the screech owls, barn owls and burrowing owls.

— dana oland, idahostatesman, "Birds of Prey gets a rare addition and a multimillion-dollar expansion | Idaho Statesman," 12 Mar. 2018
Experience the sights and sounds of eastern screech owls, raccoons, night time spiders and much more.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Calendar highlights," 23 Jan. 2018

These 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.