Northern saw-whet owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern saw-whet owl |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aegolius
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| Species: |
acadicus
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| Subspecies | |
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Aegolius acadicus acadicus |
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| Synonyms | |
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Nyctala acadica |
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The northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a tiny owl that lives in North America. It's one of the smallest owls you can find there! These owls often hide in thick bushes or conifer trees. They can be found low to the ground or up to 20 feet high. Bigger owls and raptors sometimes hunt them. Northern saw-whet owls also travel, but they don't always follow the same paths.
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What Does a Saw-Whet Owl Look Like?
These owls are about 17–22 cm (6.7–8.7 in) long. Their wings can spread 42–56.3 cm (16.5–22.2 in) wide. They weigh from 54 to 151 g (1.9 to 5.3 oz), which is about the same as an American robin. This makes them one of North America's smallest owls.
Female saw-whet owls are usually bigger than males. Females weigh around 100 grams, while males weigh about 75 grams. Their flight feathers have special colors called porphyrin pigments. These pigments glow neon pink under a UV light! This helps scientists guess their age.
Northern saw-whet owls have a round, white face with brown streaks. They have a dark beak and bright yellow eyes. Young owls, called juveniles, have a dark brown head and wings. Their chest and belly are a rusty color. They also have a clear white "Y" shape between their eyes.
These owls look a bit like short-eared owls because they don't have ear tufts. But saw-whet owls are much smaller. Their top feathers are brown or reddish with white spots. Their belly is pale with dark areas. They are common but hard to spot because they are so small and hidden.
Different Types of Saw-Whet Owls
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the northern saw-whet owl:
- Aegolius acadicus acadicus: This type is found all over North America.
- Aegolius acadicus brooksi: This type lives only on the Haida Gwaii islands in British Columbia, Canada. It does not migrate.
The A.a. brooksi owl looks darker and buffier. Some people think it should be its own separate species. Other groups of saw-whet owls in the Appalachian Mountains also look and are genetically different.
How Saw-Whet Owls Communicate
The northern saw-whet owl makes a repeated "tooting" whistle sound. Some people say it sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone. They often make these sounds to find a mate. So, you might hear them more from April to June.
They can vocalize all year round, though. Their "too-too-too" call can be heard up to 300 meters away in the forest. Scientists have recorded at least 11 different sounds these owls make. These include calls for advertising, rapid calls, whines, and even squeaks. They also make a "bill snapping" sound. This is a warning call used by adults and young owls when they feel threatened.
Amazing Hearing
Northern saw-whet owls have excellent hearing. Their ears are not perfectly even, and their ear openings are shaped differently. This helps them hear sounds at different times and strengths. Because of this, they can pinpoint exactly where their prey is. This amazing hearing allows them to hunt in complete darkness, using only sound!
Studies show they can hear sounds from 0.7 to 8.6 kHz. Their best hearing range is from 1.6 to 7.1 kHz. This special ability helps them catch prey even when they can't see it.
Where Saw-Whet Owls Live
These owls live in conifer forests across North America. Sometimes they live in mixed or deciduous woods. Many owls nest in northern conifer forests. But they spend winter in mixed or deciduous woods. They also like areas near rivers because there is lots of prey there.
They make their homes in tree holes or old nests built by other small birds. Some owls stay in one place all year. Others travel south for winter or move to lower areas. Their home range covers most of North America. This includes parts of Alaska, southern Canada, most of the United States, and the mountains in central Mexico.
Some saw-whet owls have started moving more to the southeast, like in Indiana. They are very adaptable and can live well in cold places.
There are two groups of saw-whet owls that stay in the eastern United States all year. One group lives in the Allegheny Plateau in West Virginia. The second group lives in the higher parts of the southern Appalachian Mountains. This includes western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia. Even though they are common in the north, they are threatened in some parts of North Carolina. This is because their forest homes are being lost due to logging and pollution.
Reproduction and Nesting
Northern saw-whet owls usually lay four to six white eggs. They lay them in natural tree holes or old woodpecker holes. The male owl often sings from a nest spot to attract a female. He also hides food there for her.
The father owl hunts for food while the mother watches the eggs. Female owls can have more than one group of eggs each breeding season. They might even have them with different males! Once the first baby owls can fly, the mother leaves the father to care for them. Then she goes to find another male to have more babies. This is called "sequential polyandry."
These owls compete with boreal owls, starlings, and squirrels for nest holes. Their nests can also be destroyed or eaten by animals like martens and crows. Larger hawks and owls, like Accipiter hawks, might also hunt saw-whet owls of all ages.
In 2014, scientists found nesting saw-whet owls in special nest boxes. This happened in the Southern Appalachian mountains. This was the furthest southeast they had ever been known to breed in the United States.
What Saw-Whet Owls Eat
These owls hunt at night. They wait on a high branch and then swoop down on their prey. They mostly eat small organisms, especially small mammals. Studies show that 88% to 100% of their diet is mammals. Most of these mammals are rodents.
For example, in one study, saw-whet owls mostly ate deer mice. They also ate voles and shrews. Another study found they ate more voles than other mammals. They really like small mammals, with voles making up 55% of their prey.
Saw-whet owls and northern pygmy owls hunt differently. Saw-whet owls eat mostly small mammals. But pygmy owls eat more birds. This shows that owls can change their diet based on what food is available. They also adapt to other predators in their area.
Sometimes, they also eat other mammals like flying squirrels, moles, and bats. They also eat small birds, such as swallows, sparrows, and chickadees. They can even catch larger birds, like rock pigeons, which are much heavier than them!
On the Pacific Coast, they might also eat crabs, frogs, and water insects. Like many owls, saw-whet owls have amazing hearing. They also see very well in dim light.
See also
In Spanish: Tecolote afilador para niños
