Northern Saw-whet Owl

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a tiny, round-headed owl with no ear tufts, large yellow eyes, and a rich reddish-brown, streaked plumage that provides excellent camouflage against forest bark. Young birds are strikingly different, with a chocolate-brown body, a buffy belly, and a bold white X or V pattern between the eyes.

Despite its small size, this owl is a fierce nocturnal predator of small rodents, and its old-fashioned name comes from one of its calls, a repeated, rasping note once likened to the sound of a saw blade being sharpened, or "whetted," on a stone.

Key Field Marks

• Very small size, roughly the size of an American Robin
• Round head with no ear tufts and large yellow eyes
• Reddish-brown, streaked plumage in adults; solid chocolate-brown with a white facial X pattern in juveniles
• Secretive and rarely seen, usually detected by voice

Similar Species

• Eastern/Western Screech-Owl: similar small size but has prominent ear tufts, distinguishing it readily from the tuft-less Saw-whet Owl.
• Boreal Owl: similar rounded, tuft-less shape but larger, with a more heavily spotted crown and a different facial pattern.

Range

Northern Saw-whet Owls breed across the boreal and montane coniferous forests of Canada, the northern United States, and the mountainous West, with many populations migrating south in fall to winter across much of the continental United States.

Habitat

They favor dense coniferous or mixed forest for roosting and nesting, often selecting a low, concealed roost such as a dense conifer thicket during the day, making them notoriously difficult to spot despite sometimes roosting at eye level.

Voice

The primary song is a monotonous, repeated series of low whistled toots, given mainly at night during the breeding season and audible over considerable distances despite the bird's small size.

Hunting

Saw-whet Owls hunt small rodents, especially deer mice, from a low perch at night, striking prey on the ground with a quick, silent pounce.

Nesting

They nest in old woodpecker cavities, particularly those made by Northern Flickers or Pileated Woodpeckers, and readily use nest boxes. Clutches typically contain four to seven eggs.