Eastern screech owls can be found throughout North America — from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic coast, and from Florida to Canada! These birds are much smaller compared to other owl species, and they are often mistaken for young owls even as full-grown adults. They’re only about nine inches tall!

Their coloration is typically gray or reddish-brown, and they may have little ear tuffs, called plumicorns, which help them camouflage. Eastern screech owls’ large eyes give them fantastic vision, but they are unable to see in their peripheral. If they land on a road to eat, they may not see cars or trucks driving towards them, so it’s not uncommon for these birds to be struck by a vehicle.

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Our Current Resident

Scout

Scout was a wild owl before he suffered head trauma due to a vehicle collision. After this injury, he was treated and rehabilitated at the Montana Raptor Conservation Center (located in Bozeman, Montana) before coming to ZooMontana in 2015.
You may notice Scout only has one eye, but he didn’t lose an eye in the immediate aftermath of the vehicle collision. In late 2020, the Zoo’s animal care team noticed changes in his behavior that was determined to be caused by eye pain. His eye was removed to improve his quality of life.
Scout can be visited at his indoor habitat located near the gift shop. More often than not, you’ll find him perched on his favorite branch!

Gender: Male

Birthday: Hatched April 2013- November 2014 (estimated and celebrated)