Screech owl

noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Any New World owl of genus Megascops.

    "The screech owls winter in the north and are distinctly farsighted in preparing for winter."

  2. 2
    small North American owl having hornlike tufts of feathers whose call sounds like a quavering whistle wordnet
  3. 3
    A common barn owl, of species Tyto alba, found almost worldwide. UK

    "The poet Propertius refers to a philtre containing snake bones, a toad, and the feathers of a screech-owl."

  4. 4
    any owl that has a screeching cry wordnet
  5. 5
    A mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus).

Etymology

From the fact that these species are owls which emit screeching calls.

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