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Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicusOrder: STRIGIFORMESFamily: True Owls (Strigidae)

Northern Saw-whet Owl Portrait
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General

Northern Saw-whet Owl: Small, large headed owl with brown upperparts and white underparts with thick brown stripes. Head has gray facial disk with white "Y” between eyes; lacks ear tufts. Bill is dark. Wings are brown with white spots. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is dark brown overall with buff-orange breast and belly, and white "Y” on face.

Range and Habitat

Northern Saw-whet Owl: Found from southern Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico; migrate to southern parts of range during winter, especially when food is scarce. Preferred habitats include dense coniferous or mixed hardwood forests.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"hoop", "skiew", "swEE"

Interesting Facts

 The Northern Saw-whet Owl is also called Acadian Owl, Blind Owl, Kirkland's Owl, the Saw-filer, Sparrow Owl, White-fronted Owl, Farmland Owl, Little Nightbird, Queen Charlotte Owl, and the Whet-saw Owl.

 When threatened, they elongate their body in order to appear like a tree branch, often bringing one wing around to the front of their body.

 When prey is plentiful, they will kill up to 6 mice in rapid succession, without consuming any of them. The excess food is cached in a safe place and, in winter, is thawed out later by "brooding" the frozen carcass. When food is plentiful, it is common for only the head of each prey to be eaten.

 A group of owls has many collective nouns, including a "bazaar", "glaring", "parliament", "stooping", and "wisdom" of owls.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Northern Saw-whet Owl
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family True Owl (Strigidae)_blue
Species Aegolius acadicus
Length7 - 8.5 Inches
Wingspan18.5 Inches

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl: Small, large headed owl, brown upperparts, white underparts with thick brown stripes. Head has gray facial disk with white "Y” between eyes; lacks ear tufts. Bill is dark. Wings are brown with white spots. White undertail coverts. Direct, silent flight with fluttering wing beats.

● Song: "hoop", "skiew", "swEE"

● Foraging & Feeding: Northern Saw-whet Owl: Diet consists of insects, small rodents, moles, shrews, bats, birds, and frogs; can take prey near its own size; forages from low perches or by soaring along the edges of open parks and meadows.

● Breeding & nesting: Northern Saw-whet Owl: Four to seven white eggs are laid in a natural cavity or abandoned woodpecker hole. Incubation ranges from 26 to 28 days and is carried out by the female; male brings her food while incubating.

● Similar species: Northern Saw-whet Owl: Boreal Owl is slightly larger, has yellow or white bill, rectangular head, white facial disk, and is darker brown overall.

Flight Pattern

Bouyant flight., Fluttering wing beats.
Northern Saw-whet Owl Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Northern Saw-whet Owl: Found from southern Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico; migrate to southern parts of range during winter, especially when food is scarce. Preferred habitats include dense coniferous or mixed hardwood forests.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationFairly common, Declining
MigrationIrregular
Weight2.6 Ounces