Quantcast

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicusOrder: STRIGIFORMESFamily: True Owls (Strigidae)
Northern Saw-whet Owl Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked
  • Eye Color: Dull olive in nestlings, becoming bright yellow by fledging.
  • Head Pattern: Eyeline, Spotted, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown Color: Red-brown with fine white streaking.
  • Forehead Color: Red-brown with fine white streaking. White facial disk with white "Y" between eyes.
  • Nape Color: Red-brown
  • Throat Color: Red-brown
  • Cere color: Brown
Northern Saw-whet Owl Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 18-22 cm (7-8.5 in)
  • Weight: 74 g (2.6 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: White, Brown, Rufous or Rust
  • Underparts: White with red-brown streaks and blotches.
  • Upperparts: Red-brown with white and buff spotting.
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Striped or streaked
  • Breast Pattern: Striped or streaked

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Bouyant flight., Fluttering wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 43-51 cm (17-20 in)
  • Wing Shape: Broad-Wings, Long-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Rounded Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Brown overall with faint spotting.
  • Upper Tail: Red-brown with white spotting.
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg Color: Feathered in buff-white.
.
Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007  Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
 Privacy Policy.
Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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