Screech Owl, on 140lb watercolor paper. The Eastern Screech Owl (*Megascops asio*) is a small but stocky owl, standing just 6–10 inches tall, with a large rounded head adorned with distinctive ear tufts that it can raise or flatten depending on its mood. Its plumage comes in two color morphs — rufous (reddish-brown) and gray — both intricately patterned with streaks and bars that provide remarkable camouflage against tree bark. It has piercing yellow eyes, a pale yellowish-green bill, and sturdy, feathered feet equipped with sharp talons. Found throughout eastern North America, it is a highly adaptable bird that inhabits forests, suburban neighborhoods, and parks, nesting in natural tree cavities or nest boxes. Despite its name, its most common call is not really a screech but rather a mournful, descending whinny or a long, trembling trill — eerie nighttime sounds that are a hallmark of wooded landscapes. It is a skilled nocturnal hunter, preying on insects, small mammals, birds, and even earthworms.