Birds nocturnal

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

The tiny titan of the forest, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is a master of camouflage and a favorite among backyard birders. Despite their small stature, these fierce hunters are surprisingly approachable and make for stunning captures on your backyard wildlife camera.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 17-21 cm (6.7-8.3 in) | Wingspan: 42-48 cm (16.5-18.9 in) | Weight: 65-151 g (2.3-5.3 oz)

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Colors

Rich reddish-brown upperparts with white spotting; white underparts with broad reddish-brown vertical streaks. Facial disk is pale brownish-white with a distinct white 'V' between the eyes. No ear tufts.

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Key Features

Tiny, cat-sized frame with a large, rounded head
Prominent white 'V' shape on the facial disk
Bright yellow irises and a dark beak
Lack of ear tufts and heavily feathered feet

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern nocturnal

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Peak hours 9 PM - 4 AM

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Season October-March (for backyard sightings in most temperate regions)

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Diet Primarily small mammals, with a strong preference for deer mice and voles. They are sit-and-wait predators that hunt from low perches, dropping down onto prey. They may also consume insects or small songbirds during migration.

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Habitat Dense coniferous or mixed forests, cedar swamps, and thickets. In winter, they are frequently found in suburban evergreen hedges and ornamental conifers.

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Behavior

Northern Saw-whet Owls are famously 'tame' or approachable, though this is actually a defense mechanism. They rely so heavily on their camouflage that they will remain perfectly still even when a human is only a few feet away. In the wild, they spend their days perched in the densest part of evergreen thickets, often at eye level, to avoid being spotted by larger hawks or Great Horned Owls who would gladly make a meal of them.

These owls are solitary and highly nocturnal, only becoming active after complete darkness has fallen. While they are migratory, their movements are somewhat unpredictable and 'irruptive,' meaning some years they appear in large numbers in southern latitudes while other years they stay further north. During the breeding season, males are vocal, giving a repetitive, mechanical 'toot' call that can last for hours.

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Camera Tips

Because Northern Saw-whet Owls are incredibly small and stay low to the ground, your camera placement needs to be lower than it would be for a Great Horned or Barred Owl. Look for 'whitewash' (white droppings) or small pellets (undigested fur and bones) at the base of dense evergreens like spruce, cedar, or yew. Position your camera about 3 to 5 feet off the ground, angled toward the interior of the tree's branches. These owls often return to the exact same 'roost' branch every day, so once you find a spot, keep your camera there.

Since these birds are strictly nocturnal, ensure your camera has a high-quality infrared (IR) flash. Standard white flashes will likely startle the owl and cause it to abandon the roost. Set your trigger sensitivity to 'High' because a 3-ounce bird may not always trigger a PIR sensor designed for deer or larger mammals. A 'Burst Mode' of 3-5 photos is ideal to catch the moment they land or take off, which happens in the blink of an eye.

If you have a birdbath, keep it running with a heater during the winter. Saw-whets need to drink and bathe even in freezing temperatures, and a water source in an otherwise frozen landscape is one of the best ways to lure them into the open for a clear shot. Avoid using recorded calls to attract them, as this can cause them unnecessary stress and draw the attention of larger predators to their hiding spot.

During the late fall and winter months, focus your efforts on the edges of your property where forest meets open yard. They love the cover of ornamental landscaping but need the nearby open space to hunt for mice. If you have a woodpile or a compost heap that attracts rodents, aim a camera at a nearby low-hanging branch; this is likely where the owl will sit while scanning for a midnight snack.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Northern Saw-whet Owl.

Boreal Owl

The Boreal Owl is slightly larger with a light-colored bill and black borders on its facial disk, whereas the Saw-whet has a dark bill and no black border.

Eastern Screech-Owl

Screech-owls have prominent ear tufts and vertical 'bark-like' patterning, while Saw-whets have rounded heads and blurry reddish-brown streaking.

Northern Pygmy-Owl

Pygmy-owls are diurnal (active in daytime) and have two black 'eye spots' on the back of their heads which Saw-whets lack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Northern Saw-whet Owls are strictly nocturnal. They usually emerge from their daytime roosts shortly after dusk and are most active in the middle of the night, specifically between 9 PM and 4 AM.

The best way to attract them is to provide dense evergreen cover, such as spruce or cedar trees, and maintain a birdbath. They are also attracted to yards with healthy populations of mice and voles, so avoid using rodenticides.

Their diet consists almost entirely of small rodents, particularly deer mice, voles, and shrews. Occasionally, they will eat large insects or small birds during their migratory flights.

Yes, especially during the winter. While they prefer deep forests for breeding, they often move into suburban parks and yards with dense ornamental evergreens to find food and shelter during the colder months.

Northern Saw-whet Owls lack the 'ear tufts' found on Eastern and Western Screech-Owls. They are also smaller and have a distinct white 'V' shape on their forehead between their eyes, which Screech Owls do not have.

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