Semi-zygodactyl – 4th digit rotates backwards
Extreme color variation: can be dark to light gray, red-brown, or red color morphs
Approximate Hatch Weights:
~13g at hatching
~120g by 20 days old
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Common Name: Owls
Region: Eastern
Chick Type: Altricial
Down: White down
Skin Color: Pink
Bill: Hooked and gray with yellow tip
Foot Type: Semi-zygodactyl
Gape: Pink
Gape Flanges: Pink
Iris: Yellow
Legs and Feet: Feathered legs and raptorial feet
Video by Nikki Becich, The Wildlife Center of Virginia
Video by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
Video from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/Resized_20180422_132021.jpg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/Resized_20180422_132010.jpg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_4db5.jpeg)
Photo by Laura Kintz, WildCare Oklahoma
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_4db4.jpeg)
Photo by Laura Kintz, WildCare Oklahoma
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_4288.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_4289.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
~1st Week - 64g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_4011.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge
~1st Week - 64g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_4008.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge
~2nd Week - 79g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_39f7.jpeg)
Photo by Brenda Varvarigos
~2nd Week - 79g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_39f9.jpeg)
Photo by Brenda Varvarigos
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/01/fullsizeoutput_2a8b.jpeg)
Photo by Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/18342585_1521646351201030_6593961079009801064_n.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~2nd Week - 85g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_4179.jpg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/Screech-owl-chick-5.04.2018_bill-byrne_8820-.jpg)
Photo by Bill Byrne, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~2nd Week - average 82g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_4185.jpg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/Screech-owl-chick-ID-temp-band-5.04.2018-Tufts_8826-.jpg)
Photo by Bill Byrne, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week - average 92g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_3675.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week - average 92g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_3678.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week - average 92g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_3680.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week - 95g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_3676.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week - 111g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3970.jpeg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~3rd Week - 111g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3971.jpeg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~3rd Week - 111g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3974.jpeg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~3rd Week - 111g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3976.jpeg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~4th Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/18222301_1542229302476068_4425192045791043543_n.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~4th Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2462.jpg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~4th Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2465.jpg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~4th Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_38de.jpeg)
Photo by Maureen Eiger, Help Wild Birds
~4th Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_38e0.jpeg)
Photo by Maureen Eiger, Help Wild Birds
~4th Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_4db6.jpeg)
Photo by Laura Kintz, WildCare Oklahoma
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_4db8.jpeg)
Photo by Laura Kintz, WildCare Oklahoma
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/04/fullsizeoutput_327d.jpeg)
Photo by Andy Cunningham, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2021/01/48075732773_e05dd71333_o-scaled.jpeg)
Photo from Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
>4 weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/09/1540309_395999003933370_8286598780898742175_o.jpg)
Photo by Maureen Eiger, Help Wild Birds
>4 weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/09/461787_432875063579097_7009821545754590702_o.jpg)
Photo by Maureen Eiger, Help Wild Birds