Northern Saw-whet Owl
Encyclopedia
The Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a small owl native to North America
.
who was a missionary in Canada in 1896. Adults are 17–22 cm (6.7–8.7 in) long with a 42–56.3 cm (16.5–22.2 in) wingspan. They can weigh from 54 to 151 g (1.9 to 5.3 oz) with an average of around 80 g (2.8 oz), making them one of the smallest owls in North America. In relative size to other birds they are close to the size of an American Robin
. The Northern Saw-whet Owl has a round, light, white face with brown and cream streaks; they also have a dark beak and yellow eyes. They resemble the Short-eared Owl
, because they also lack ear tufts, but are much smaller. The underparts are pale with dark shaded areas; the upper parts are brown or reddish with white spots. They are quite common, but hard to spot.
woods, across North America
. They also love riparian areas, nears streams and rivers because of the abundance of prey in those areas. They live in tree cavities and old nests made by other small raptors. Some are permanent residents, while others may migrate
south in winter or move down from higher elevations.Their range covers most of North America including Southeastern Alaska, Southern Canada, most of the United States and the central mountains in Mexico. The map shows where they breed and the areas where they can live throughout the year.
Some have begun to move more southeast in Indiana
and neighboring states. Buidin et. al. did a study of how far north the Northern Saw-whet owls breed and they found that they can breed northward to >50[degrees] N, farther than ever recorded before. Their range is quite extensive and they can even breed in the far north where most birds migrate from to breed. They are an adaptive species that can do well in the cold.
s such as small bird
s, mice
, and the occasional chipmunk
. On the Pacific coast
they may also eat crustaceans and aquatic insects. Like many owls, these birds have excellent hearing and exceptional vision in low light. In a test done by Swengel and Swengel they found that the Northern Saw-Whet Owls most often eat deer mice, 67% and voles, 16% of the time in Wisconsin. . In a similar test done by Holt and Leroux in Montana found that these owls ate more voles than other mammals. This shows that these owls can change their main pray depending on what is available. Also researched by Holt and Leroux was the eating habits of Northern Saw-Whet owls and Northern Pygmy Owls and found that they prey on different animals for their main food source, showing that they can adapt not only depending on the prey but also with the other predators in the areas where they live.
" novel series is a Northern Saw-whet Owl.
The song of the Saw-whet Owl is mentioned in the Grateful Dead
song "Unbroken Chain" on their album Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel
.
After an online "Critter Vote", the Saw-whet Owl became the new star of Telus
' mobility campaign in the summer of 2011.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Description
The scientific description of one of the sub-species of this owl is attributed to the Rev. John Henry KeenJohn Henry Keen
The Reverend John Henry Keen was a missionary in Canada. He translated scriptures into Haida. Keen wrote on insects he had discovered and he had a species of mouse and bat named after him. In 1898 Keen sold a number of items to the British Museum including a model totem and an explanation of the...
who was a missionary in Canada in 1896. Adults are 17–22 cm (6.7–8.7 in) long with a 42–56.3 cm (16.5–22.2 in) wingspan. They can weigh from 54 to 151 g (1.9 to 5.3 oz) with an average of around 80 g (2.8 oz), making them one of the smallest owls in North America. In relative size to other birds they are close to the size of an American Robin
American Robin
The American Robin or North American Robin is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It is named after the European Robin because of its reddish-orange breast, though the two species are not closely related, with the European robin belonging to the flycatcher family...
. The Northern Saw-whet Owl has a round, light, white face with brown and cream streaks; they also have a dark beak and yellow eyes. They resemble the Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...
, because they also lack ear tufts, but are much smaller. The underparts are pale with dark shaded areas; the upper parts are brown or reddish with white spots. They are quite common, but hard to spot.
Voice
The Northern Saw-Whet Owl makes a repeated tooting whistle sound. Some say they sound like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone. They usually make these sounds to find a mate, so they can be heard more often April through June when they are looking for mates. Despite being more common in Spring, they do vocalize year round.Habitat
Their habitat is coniferous forests, sometimes mixed or deciduousDeciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
woods, across North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. They also love riparian areas, nears streams and rivers because of the abundance of prey in those areas. They live in tree cavities and old nests made by other small raptors. Some are permanent residents, while others may migrate
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
south in winter or move down from higher elevations.Their range covers most of North America including Southeastern Alaska, Southern Canada, most of the United States and the central mountains in Mexico. The map shows where they breed and the areas where they can live throughout the year.
Some have begun to move more southeast in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and neighboring states. Buidin et. al. did a study of how far north the Northern Saw-whet owls breed and they found that they can breed northward to >50[degrees] N, farther than ever recorded before. Their range is quite extensive and they can even breed in the far north where most birds migrate from to breed. They are an adaptive species that can do well in the cold.
Nesting
Northern Saw-Whet Owls lay about 5-6 white colored eggs in natural tree cavities or woodpecker holes. The father does the hunting while the mother watches and sits on her eggs. Females can have more than one clutch of eggs each breeding season with different males. Once the offspring in the first nest have developed their feathers the mother will leave the father to care for them and go find another male to reproduce with. This type of mating is sequential polyandry.Feeding
These birds wait on a high perch at night and swoop down on prey. They mainly eat small organismOrganism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
s such as small bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s, mice
MICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
, and the occasional chipmunk
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
. On the Pacific coast
Pacific Coast
A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.-The Americas:Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western border.* Geography of Canada* Geography of Chile* Geography of Colombia...
they may also eat crustaceans and aquatic insects. Like many owls, these birds have excellent hearing and exceptional vision in low light. In a test done by Swengel and Swengel they found that the Northern Saw-Whet Owls most often eat deer mice, 67% and voles, 16% of the time in Wisconsin. . In a similar test done by Holt and Leroux in Montana found that these owls ate more voles than other mammals. This shows that these owls can change their main pray depending on what is available. Also researched by Holt and Leroux was the eating habits of Northern Saw-Whet owls and Northern Pygmy Owls and found that they prey on different animals for their main food source, showing that they can adapt not only depending on the prey but also with the other predators in the areas where they live.
In popular culture
Martin from the "Guardians of Ga'HooleGuardians of Ga'Hoole
Guardians of Ga’Hoole is a fantasy book series written by Kathryn Lasky and published by Scholastic. The series, which ended in 2008 with the publication of The War of the Ember, has a total of fifteen books. Apart from the main series there are a few more books and spin offs set in the same universe...
" novel series is a Northern Saw-whet Owl.
The song of the Saw-whet Owl is mentioned in the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
song "Unbroken Chain" on their album Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel
Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel
From the Mars Hotel is the seventh studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was mostly recorded in April 1974 and originally released on June 27, 1974. It was the second release under the band's own label, Grateful Dead Records, after fulfilling their contract with Warner Bros...
.
After an online "Critter Vote", the Saw-whet Owl became the new star of Telus
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
' mobility campaign in the summer of 2011.
External links
- Northern Saw-whet Owl Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Saw-whet Owl - Aegolius acadicus - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Northern Saw-whet Owl Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding