Last year, for the first time in 42 years, I didn't see an Eastern screech owl in Ohio ... severe winters better than owls with red coloring. The red phase owls have significantly higher energy ...

The eastern screech-owl has both a gray and a red morph. About a third of easterns end up with the rufous coloring. Look for heavy streaks below and darker bars on the back, small ear-like tufts ...