Title

Comparative Food Habits of the Screech Owl and Long-Eared Owl in Southwestern Idaho

Document Type

NCA Publications/Journals & Book Chapters

Publication Date

Winter 1-1-1981

Journal Title/Publication Source

The Murrelet

Volume

62

Issue Number

3

Page Numbers

80-82

Abstract

The Screech Owl (Otus asio) and Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) are sympatric in much of the United States. Published accounts of Long-eared Owl food habits are numerous (see Marti 1976), while relatively little informatio is available on Screech Owl food habits (Marti and Hogue 1979). We could not find any publications on the food habits of Screech Owls in Idaho.

On 21 May 1979 a Long-eared Owl nest was discovered in a limestone cliff in southwestern Idaho (Marks and Yensen 1980). Long-eared Owls nested at the same site in 1980, starting in early April both years. A Screech Owl was found roosting in a cliff about 75 m from the Long-eared Owl nest cavity on 22 March 1980 but vacated the roost during the last week in March.

Pellets collected from the Screech Owl roost and the Long-eared Owl nest enabled us to compare the food habits of the two owl species from an area where both had the opportunity to hunt the same prey species.

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COinS
 

Comparative Food Habits of the Screech Owl and Long-Eared Owl in Southwestern Idaho

The Screech Owl (Otus asio) and Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) are sympatric in much of the United States. Published accounts of Long-eared Owl food habits are numerous (see Marti 1976), while relatively little informatio is available on Screech Owl food habits (Marti and Hogue 1979). We could not find any publications on the food habits of Screech Owls in Idaho.

On 21 May 1979 a Long-eared Owl nest was discovered in a limestone cliff in southwestern Idaho (Marks and Yensen 1980). Long-eared Owls nested at the same site in 1980, starting in early April both years. A Screech Owl was found roosting in a cliff about 75 m from the Long-eared Owl nest cavity on 22 March 1980 but vacated the roost during the last week in March.

Pellets collected from the Screech Owl roost and the Long-eared Owl nest enabled us to compare the food habits of the two owl species from an area where both had the opportunity to hunt the same prey species.