Northern saw-whet Owl

HABITAT:

​It prefers native, dense white cedar, red maple and hemlock wetlands. They can be found on the forest edges. Other habitats such as pitch pine barrens, pine forests, alder thickets, tamarack bogs and thick cedar groves are also habitat to the saw whet owl. It prefers to roost in conifers or branches close to the trunk, often 1-2 feet off the ground.

NESTING:

​Eggs are laid between the beginning of April and the end of May. The nests are usually made in abandoned woodpecker holes (especially flicker) but will also nest in natural cavities and nest boxes that are 20- 40 ft off the ground. Typically, they lay 4-5 eggs which are incubated for 21-28 days. The female stays on the nest and will only poke her head out of the hole if the tree is banged.

BEHAVIOR:

The saw whet owl is strictly nocturnal so seldom seen.. The territory is about 281 acres.

During harsh winters the saw whet owl will migrate south. During less harsh winters it may not migrate or make a short “migration”.

Its call is said to sound like the sound of a saw being sharpened on a whetstone. It has a metallic raspy sound -SSSSS-haaaayyyyy-y-y-y

FOOD:

​It eats primarily small mammals such as mice and voles but will also eat small song birds and large insects.

PREDATORS:

​Their primary predators are the great horned owl, long eared owl and barred owl