What kind of Owl is this?

Edited: An Eastern Screech Owl
Didn't get a chance to take more pictures of him/her, I really wasn't expecting an owl to just gracefully fly to a branch right above my head (just a mere 2-3 feet above my head) and stare at me. I had taken my son for a hike, but took my CanonT2i JUST IN CASE.... mainly for deer because my son is so loud that most birds fly off. This little guy though, he seemed curious and stared at me a little, I was able to get this one shot and then take off after my son (who I am about to put on a leash from now on). I am not sure what kind of owl he/she is, I could've sworn it had little ears but you can't see them in here. It was probably 8 inches tall/long, maybe a foot tall/long at most.

Eastern Screech owl. (Gray Morph)

Is he an adult or a youth? He sure was cute, and curious.

I'd just consider it an adult, although it could have been hatched in the spring of 2014. No way to really tell from the picture. With some birds you can go by molt patterns, or other signs as to an approximate age.

Beekeeper wrote in post #17390367
Eastern Screech owl. (Gray Morph)

Looks more like a red morph.

When I was shining my light on him, he looked grey but then with the stupid on camera flash (I didn't bring my 430EX II with me) it comes off a bit red. I wish I would've had more time to get a few more pictures of him, but I just wasn't expecting such a beauty to say hi to me. It was just was dusk had settled and the sun was down below the horizon. Tomorrow is looking to be quite nice again so maybe I'll get a 2nd chance. This time I'll have my 430 EX II with me and I'll have my almost 3 year old son on a leash... wish me luck

Go back out in the general area you found him and look for hollows in trees. Often they sit in the opening even in the day, or close to the trunk. I had one for a couple of years that would roost on my patio light during the day, and then at night sit on the poles I hang bird feeders on and watch for mice. They can be rather unwary in my experience.

I might have to either have my mom watch my son or put him on a leash. I'll have a better chance on the weekends than during the week, there are lots of hollows and little holes in the trees out there.... a lot of dead trees.

My brother-in-law, who does a lot of birding says this guy has been there since December 20th that he knows of. He's been searching for this guy's nest since, maybe I'll get lucky and spot it

Great shot, well done.

Red Dexs wrote in post #17391207
Great shot, well done.

Thanks