One of a family of screech owls.

"During the fledging period, a person should be wary about approaching the vicinity of a screech owl nest after dark. The parents are almost always extremely aggressive and will attack and very often strike the intruder, generally on the top or back of the head.

Strikes are usually preceded by several close warning passes accompanied by vocalization and bill snapping. Eric Hosking, the leading bird photographer of his day, lost an eye to a tawny owl in England white photographing its nesting activities one night.

I never approach a screech owl nest at night without wearing a peaked cap." --- www.ronausting.com