Females do most of the incubating but males will assist. The male provides most of the food while the female broods the young, and will stockpile food during early stages. Eastern Screech Owls are single brooded, but may re-nest if the first clutch is lost. When the young are small the female tears the food up for them. Adults tend to remain near their breeding areas year-round while juveniles disperse in the autumn.
Siblings tend to disperse together.
While captive Eastern Screech Owls have lived for over 20 years, wild birds would be unlikely to reach this age. Eastern Screech Owls are the second most frequently killed bird by moving vehicles, after American Robins. They will avoid dense forests because Great Horned Owls use that habitat. They will also avoid high elevation forests. Eastern Screech Owls roost mainly in natural cavities in large trees, including cavities open to the sky during dry weather.