screech owl

noun

1

: barn owl

2

: any of various New World owls (genus Megascops)

especially : either of two small owls (M. asio of eastern North America and M. 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

Both the barn owl and the center’s 14-year-old eastern screech owl were rescued as young animals. —Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026

Grandma liked sitting outside with the sun on her face, and listening to screech owls at night. —Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026

For the larger screech owls, the Woodlink screech owl box is a great option. —Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026

Eastern screech owls are always a favorite. —Joe Murphy, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for screech owl

• afoul
• wildfowl
• foul
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• prowl
• scowl
• waterfowl

Kids Definition

screech owl

noun

: either of two small North American owls that have two tufts of feathers on the head that look like ears