Northern saw-whet owl • Aegolius acadicus
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Photos by Brian Starzomski
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Identification
At only around 20 cm long this petite owl is about the size of an American robin. It has a large rounded head without ear tufts, a compact frame, and short heavily-feathered legs. Its colouring is brown with white streaks on the head, white spots on the back, wings, and tail, and white striped with brown undersides. It has yellow eyes and a prominent white V-shape between the eyes and bill. Juveniles are darker brown with a cinnamon-brown breast.
The northern saw-whet is known for a call composed of a repetitive, monotonous, single-note toot. Click here to listen to this and various other calls and sounds it makes.
Habitat & Range
The northern saw-whet owl inhabits a wide range of forested habitats, though it commonly breeds in coniferous forests and winters in forested habitats with dense canopy cover. It is very nocturnal, and is found throughout the year on the Central Coast. Throughout its North American range some northern saw-whets are resident in their breeding range year-round, while some migrate southward or downward in elevation in fall or winter. This species is fairly common and widespread, but its small stature and cryptic colouring means it often eludes notice; because these birds are rarely seen, range and distribution are not well understood.
Similar Species
The northern pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma) is even smaller, with a smaller head compared to its body. The western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii kennicottii), about the same size as the northern saw-whet, has ear tufts, more finely streaked undersides, and a black border to its facial disc.
Intriguing Info
This little owl was named after one of its various calls, which apparently sounds like a saw being sharpened on a stone; Audubon Birds reports that there is no consensus as to which call earned it the name.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/20356-Aegolius-acadicus
At only around 20 cm long this petite owl is about the size of an American robin. It has a large rounded head without ear tufts, a compact frame, and short heavily-feathered legs. Its colouring is brown with white streaks on the head, white spots on the back, wings, and tail, and white striped with brown undersides. It has yellow eyes and a prominent white V-shape between the eyes and bill. Juveniles are darker brown with a cinnamon-brown breast.
The northern saw-whet is known for a call composed of a repetitive, monotonous, single-note toot. Click here to listen to this and various other calls and sounds it makes.
Habitat & Range
The northern saw-whet owl inhabits a wide range of forested habitats, though it commonly breeds in coniferous forests and winters in forested habitats with dense canopy cover. It is very nocturnal, and is found throughout the year on the Central Coast. Throughout its North American range some northern saw-whets are resident in their breeding range year-round, while some migrate southward or downward in elevation in fall or winter. This species is fairly common and widespread, but its small stature and cryptic colouring means it often eludes notice; because these birds are rarely seen, range and distribution are not well understood.
Similar Species
The northern pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma) is even smaller, with a smaller head compared to its body. The western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii kennicottii), about the same size as the northern saw-whet, has ear tufts, more finely streaked undersides, and a black border to its facial disc.
Intriguing Info
This little owl was named after one of its various calls, which apparently sounds like a saw being sharpened on a stone; Audubon Birds reports that there is no consensus as to which call earned it the name.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/20356-Aegolius-acadicus
References
Northern Saw-Whet Owl Aegolius acadicus. Audubon Guide to North American Birds. Accessed 26/02/2019.
Northern Saw-Whet Owl Aegolius acadicus. All About Birds. The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online. Accessed 26/02/2019.
Dunn, J. L. and Alderfer, J. (Eds.). (2011). National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (6th Ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. Pp. 288-289.
Rasmussen, J. L., S. G. Sealy, and R. J. Cannings (2008). Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus). In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.42
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell (2019)
Northern Saw-Whet Owl Aegolius acadicus. Audubon Guide to North American Birds. Accessed 26/02/2019.
Northern Saw-Whet Owl Aegolius acadicus. All About Birds. The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online. Accessed 26/02/2019.
Dunn, J. L. and Alderfer, J. (Eds.). (2011). National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (6th Ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. Pp. 288-289.
Rasmussen, J. L., S. G. Sealy, and R. J. Cannings (2008). Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus). In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.42
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell (2019)
