Northern Saw-whet Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus

Habitat:	Woodlands, mostly coniferous

Range:	Northern and Western United States, and Southern Canada. In winter can be found in most of the United States.

Voice:	One note whistle, "Too, too, too, too...", repeated over and over, sometimes for hours.

Identification:	Length: 7 - 8 inches Wingspan: 17 - 20 inches Weight: 2.6 - 3.25 ounces A small owl with a large rounded head and no ear tufts. The yellow eyes are surrounded by a pale facial disk with white eyebrows. The upperparts are brown with large white spots while the underparts are pale with large streaks.

Diet:		Mostly small mice, but also eats birds and insects.

Nest:	Begins nesting in late March and April. The female lays 4 - 7 eggs in an old woodpecker hole or other natural cavity. The female incubates the eggs for 26 - 29 days. The young leave the nest after 27 - 34 days. The female stays with the young for the first 18 days and the she leaves the nest. The male will continue to leave feed the birds for up to a month after they leave the nest.

Comments:	This tiny owl is mostly nocturnal which makes it difficult to find. Looking for pellets and white wash is one of the easiest ways to locate this species.