Listen forBirds
Young eastern screech-owls calling after dark in late summer
When: August to September
In late summer the year's young Eastern Screech-Owls leave their nests and call in the dark, a shivery whinny or a soft trill, as they search for territories of their own.
Why this time of year
Mass Audubon's August almanac flags this exact window for Massachusetts: young screech-owls are leaving their nests in late summer and calling as they hunt for a place of their own.
How to notice it
- On a still night, step outside near trees and stand quietly for a while.
- Listen for a descending whinny or a long soft trill; both are Eastern Screech-Owl sounds.
- If you hear one, stay put and keep listening; it may call again or be answered.
- Skip apps and imitations; repeated playback can stress the birds.
Try this with kids: Can you stand outside in the dark, quiet as a stone, and listen for a whinny?
Dispersal means young animals leaving the place they were raised to find a territory of their own.
Safety
- Do not use repeated playback to lure or stress birds.
Sources
- massaudubon.orgScreech-owl families remain in close association at least through the end of summer; the species is essentially nonmigratory, heard year round, and lives in woodlots, orchards, and residential areas.
- massaudubon.orgVocal repertoire of whinnies, trills, moans, rattles, and screeches; regularly roosts and nests in urban, suburban, and agricultural settings.
In the guide for August, September