Our Education Birds: Otus

Otus is a grey-phase Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio). She came to the Raptor Center in the Fall of 2002 as an adult bird. Otus is a small owl, only weighing about six ounces. She suffered head trauma and an injured left eye after colliding with a vehicle. We had initially hoped her eye would clear and her vision would return to normal. Unfortunately that hasn't happened, and the decision was finally made to keep her as part of our educational team. Otus has adapted quite well to life as an education bird, and made her public debut in March of 2003.

Eastern Screech-Owls come in two color phases, grey and red (rufous). Scientists are unsure what causes the color differences, and we rehabilitate about an equal number of each at the Raptor Center. Found in West Virginia and throughout most of the eastern United States year round, Eastern Screech-Owls are our most common patient. They have adapted better than some other species to living near humans--even Central Park in New York City has a thriving Eastern Screech-Owl population!

Screech-Owls will nest in tree cavities as well as artificial nest boxes. In the wild, their prey is quite varied and includes mice, moles, chipmunks, bats, small songbirds, snakes, salamanders, and insects. Eastern Screech-Owls may themselves become prey for larger owls, like the Great Horned Owls.

(Recently, the American Ornithologists Union reclassified the Eastern Screech-Owl from Otus asio to Megascops asio. Maybe we should change Otus's name to "Mega"!)

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Otus's Image Gallery:

Otus at the WV State Capitol
Otus meets students
Otus and volunteer Shannon
Otus and volunteer Beth
Otus flaps her wings
Otus in the loft
Otus makes a friend
Otus up close