Northern Hawk-Owl

The Northern Hawk-Owl (Surnia ulula) is an unusual and striking member of the owl family, famous for bridging the evolutionary gap in behavior and appearance between owls and diurnal raptors. Unlike most nocturnal owls, this species is strictly diurnal, hunting during the bright daylight hours of the far northern latitudes. It possesses a long, wedge-shaped tail, relatively short, pointed wings, and a distinctive hawkish posture. Found across the circumpolar boreal zone, it is a highly sought-after species by birdwatchers, especially during winter irruptions when individual owls wander south of their typical breeding range.

The Northern Hawk-Owl is moderately sized and immediately recognizable by its unique combination of hawk-like proportions and classic owl facial features.

Key Field Marks

• Facial Disk: A pale, off-white facial disk framed by a thick, bold black border. It features bright yellow eyes and a sharp, light yellow bill.
• Underparts: Heavily and uniformly barred with dark horizontal brown stripes against a white background, highly reminiscent of a Cooper's Hawk or a Northern Goshawk.
• Upperparts: Dark brown back and shoulders heavily patterned with white spotting. A distinct dark, V-shaped marking is visible on the nape of the neck.
• Tail & Wings: A long, wedge-shaped tail that is noticeably barred. Unlike the rounded wings of most owls, its wings are somewhat pointed, aiding in rapid, agile flight.

Similar Species

• Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus): Much smaller, strictly nocturnal, lacks the long tail, and has vertical brown streaks rather than horizontal barring on the underparts.
• Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma): Far smaller, with a rounder body and a shorter tail, and lacks the bold, black-bordered facial disk.
• Accipiters (such as Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawks): While they share similar horizontal barring and tail length, they have smaller, hawk-like heads without the broad owl face, dark eyes (in juveniles) or red/orange eyes (in adults), and hunt with a different wing-beat pattern.

This species is a resident of the circumpolar boreal forest (taiga) belt across the globe, spanning northern North America (from Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland) and northern Eurasia.

Habitat Preferences

Northern Hawk-Owls inhabit open, coniferous or mixed boreal forests, frequently occupying areas adjacent to wetlands, muskegs, burned-over tracts, and clear-cuts where dead trees (snags) remain standing. They require these elevated perches to spot prey.

Migration and Irruptions

Generally considered permanent residents within their northern breeding range, Northern Hawk-Owls do not undertake regular, predictable migrations. However, they are famous for winter irruptions. When vole and lemming populations crash in the far north, these owls migrate south in search of food, showing up in the northern United States, southern Canadian provinces, and central Europe, where they often draw large crowds of birdwatchers.

The behavior of the Northern Hawk-Owl is decidedly un-owl-like, displaying actions and hunting strategies that match falcons and hawks.

Hunting and Diet

Instead of hunting by sound under the cover of darkness, this owl relies on its superlative vision to spot movement from afar. It sits conspicuously upright on the absolute tip of a tall dead tree, telephone pole, or snag. Once prey is sighted, it launches into a fast, direct, and low-to-the-ground flight, often swooping upward at the last second to strike. Its primary diet consists of microtine rodents, such as voles, mice, and lemmings. During the winter or when rodents are scarce, they will take medium-sized birds, such as grouse, ptarmigan, and jays.

Vocalization

The most common breeding season call of the male is a rapid, bubbling, whistle-like trill, ulululululululu, from which its scientific species name (ulula) is derived. Alert calls include a sharp, metallic tu-whip or a harsh chatter when defending its nest.

Nesting

Northern Hawk-Owls are cavity nesters, typically utilizing natural hollows in large dead trees, abandoned woodpecker cavities (such as those of the Pileated Woodpecker), or the hollowed tops of broken-off snags. They do not build their own nests and will occasionally use the abandoned stick nests of crows, ravens, or hawks.