Illustration of screech owl
- screech owl 2
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
Examples of screech owl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eastern screech owls are always a favorite.
—
Joe Murphy, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Small owls like screech owls often sleep in tree cavities or nest boxes, while barn owls live up to their name by seeking out barns and empty buildings.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
The last is the Eastern screech owl, which is a much smaller bird, short and stocky.
—Sarah Bowman, IndyStar, 15 Dec. 2025
The final bird Gonzalez presented was a western screech owl.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screech owl
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Joe Murphy, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Small owls like screech owls often sleep in tree cavities or nest boxes, while barn owls live up to their name by seeking out barns and empty buildings.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
The last is the Eastern screech owl, which is a much smaller bird, short and stocky.
—Sarah Bowman, IndyStar, 15 Dec. 2025
The final bird Gonzalez presented was a western screech owl.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screech owl
Cite this Entry
“Screech owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screech%20owl. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
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