Food is swallowed whole and small pellets of indigestible materials such as bone, fur and arthropod exoskeletons are regurgitated periodically. Screech owls will often eat within their nest cavity since they must be aware of predators such as larger owls. The habitat of the Eastern Screech Owl is open deciduous woods, woodlots, lakeshores, old orchards, swamps and suburban areas. These owls prefer open subcanopy with sparse shrub cover. The Eastern Screech Owl can be found east of the Rocky Mountains, from southern Canada to the Tropic of Cancer.
Screech owls are primarily solitary birds except during breeding season.
Nesting During late winter, a male screech owl will claim one or two nesting sites and try to attract the female to them by placing food at the nest site. Pairs usual bond for life. Screech owls will nest in natural tree cavities, nesting boxes, mail boxes and porch columns. The female will not construct a nest. Instead she makes a depression with her body when laying eggs onto nesting debris.