What is "screech owl"

Screech \Screech\, n. A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a shriek; a scream. Screech bird, or Screech thrush (Zo["o]l.), the fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry before rain. Screech rain. Screech hawk (Zo["o]l.), the European goatsucker; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.] Screech owl. (Zo["o]l.)

1. A small American owl ( Scops asio), either gray or reddish in color.

2. The European barn owl. The name is applied also to other species.

n. 1 A North American owl belonging to the ''(l mul Megascops)'' genus. 2 (context UK English) the barn owl, ''(l mul Tyto alba)''.

1. n. any owl that has a screeching cry

2. small North American owl having hornlike tufts of feathers whose call sounds like a quavering whistle [syn: Otus asio]

Screech owls or screech-owls are typical owls ( Strigidae) belonging to the genus Megascops. Twenty-one living species are known at present, but new ones are frequently recognized and unknown ones are still being discovered on a regular basis, especially in the Andes. For most of the 20th century, this genus was merged with the Old World scops owls in Otus, but nowadays it is again considered separate based on a range of behavioral, biogeographical, morphological and DNA sequence data.

Screech owls are restricted to the Americas. Some species formerly placed with them are nowadays considered more distinct (see below for details). The common name "screech owl" is sometimes used for the not closely related barn owl as well.