How big does a screech owl winter house have to be? (1 Viewer)

[Spring-Birdie]

It's the middle of the winter where I live and a neighbor's barn/shed collapsed, and a screech owl showed up around the same time, so I'm guessing it was from the barn. I was wondering if I could make a nest box for it, and if it would use it this time of year?
How big would it have to be? I already have a box from something else, and it is 11.5 inches tall 5 in wide and 5 deep. Is that big enough for an eastern screech owl?

 

[Bagrica]

Hey there! So, if you're looking to put up a screech owl house for the winter, it’s great that you want to help them out. These little guys love to nest in cavities like tree hollows, so their winter house doesn’t need to be too big, but it does need to be just the right size for them to feel cozy and safe.

A good size for a screech owl house is typically about 8 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and about 18 inches tall. The entrance hole should be around 3 inches in diameter. This gives them enough space to roost comfortably without being too open or drafty. They like the space to feel snug, but they also need to be able to move around a little if needed.

It’s also important to keep the entrance hole a bit higher from the ground—usually around 12-15 feet. This way, they can feel more secure from predators. Be sure to place the house in a quiet, sheltered spot, like near trees or a wooded area, so they have plenty of cover.

Hopefully, this helps! Setting up the right home for these owls can make a big difference for their winter survival.

 

[MiddleRiver]

It's the middle of the winter where I live and a neighbor's barn/shed collapsed, and a screech owl showed up around the same time, so I'm guessing it was from the barn. I was wondering if I could make a nest box for it, and if it would use it this time of year?
How big would it have to be? I already have a box from something else, and it is 11.5 inches tall 5 in wide and 5 deep. Is that big enough for an eastern screech owl?

 

[MiddleRiver]

 

[MiddleRiver]

I recently had a large sycamore topple over, which had several hole/cavities which were used by Pileated, Screech, and Flicker. Some of the cavities were as small as 9" dia. in plan, and anywhere from 12-18" tall.