Occasionally flies during daylight, especially when disturbed. Mice, rats, frogs, snakes, crayfish, rabbits, chipmunks, small birds and insects. Courtship and breeding takes place from February through March in Missouri. Two or three white, round eggs are laid in a tree cavity or occasionally in an abandoned hawk nest.
Usual call is a series of eight accented hoots ending in oo-aw.
The removal of large snags suitable for nesting, stream pollution, collisions with cars, and predation and competition by great horned owls. Back to top of page. Peak numbers in Missouri occur about every four years in response to lemming population crashes in far north. Most active during day. Perches on the ground, fence posts or hay bales.