The Northern Saw-whet Owl

Appearance - What do their Appearance - What do their faces look like faces look like

Their face is pale Their face is pale

with white streaks with white streaks

on its crownon its crown

Appearance - What does their Appearance - What does their body look like body look like

Smallest owl in North Smallest owl in North America, only 20 cm’s America, only 20 cm’s long and weighing 100 long and weighing 100 gramsgrams

Males and females are the Males and females are the same colour, females are same colour, females are largerlarger

White chest with brown White chest with brown body with white spotsbody with white spots

They also have ear tufts They also have ear tufts that stick up on both sides that stick up on both sides of the headof the head

Appearance - HearingAppearance - Hearing The Northern Saw-whet owl’s face The Northern Saw-whet owl’s face

acts like an outer ear. acts like an outer ear. It’s face is shaped like two satellite It’s face is shaped like two satellite

dishes that funnel sound to their dishes that funnel sound to their ears.ears.

HABITAT-CLIMATEHABITAT-CLIMATE

They like mature forests in areas They like mature forests in areas near water.near water.

They prefer moderate climates and They prefer moderate climates and migrate south to Prince Edward migrate south to Prince Edward Island.Island.

HABITAT-WORLDHABITAT-WORLD

In summer their range expands from In summer their range expands from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. British Columbia to Nova Scotia.

They live in Eastern North America.They live in Eastern North America. They breed in New England and They breed in New England and

Eastern Canada.Eastern Canada. During the winter, their range may During the winter, their range may

expand southward but generally no expand southward but generally no further than Wisconsin.further than Wisconsin.

Habitat-making their home!Habitat-making their home! They nest in They nest in

natural tree natural tree cavities, wood- cavities, wood- pecker holes and pecker holes and man made nest man made nest boxes.boxes.

Some use bird Some use bird houses.houses.

They live in thick They live in thick coniferous, young coniferous, young cedars, spruce and cedars, spruce and pine trees.pine trees.

Habitat-choosing the home!Habitat-choosing the home!

males choose and defend territories males choose and defend territories to which they attract females by to which they attract females by calling. calling.

Diet-What do they eat?Diet-What do they eat?• Mainly eats insects and rodentsMainly eats insects and rodents

• They also eat deer, mice, rats, and small They also eat deer, mice, rats, and small squirrelssquirrels

• The Northern Saw-Whet eat other birdsThe Northern Saw-Whet eat other birds

• Also animals larger then itselfAlso animals larger then itself

How do they catch their How do they catch their prey?prey?• It waits for prey on It waits for prey on

low perches and low perches and drops down on them.drops down on them.

• Searches for food by Searches for food by flying close to the flying close to the grown.grown.

• They have small hairs They have small hairs on the edges of their on the edges of their wings so they can fly wings so they can fly silently and sneak up silently and sneak up on their prey.on their prey.

How do owls eat their food?How do owls eat their food?

• Owls swallow their Owls swallow their prey wholeprey whole

• They tear it into They tear it into small piecessmall pieces

• They can bend down They can bend down to their talons and to their talons and eat their prey eat their prey because they have because they have very flexible necks.very flexible necks.

How do they digest their pelletHow do they digest their pellet

• They spit up their foodThey spit up their food

• They have bones in the pelletThey have bones in the pellet

• It is surrounded with fur and salivaIt is surrounded with fur and saliva

Young-babies

Fly by five weeks

When owlets hatch, they nestle together in their cozy safe home

Whwn young are about 18 days old, she starts spending the night in another hole

Young-who takes care of babies

Both mother and father combine their hunting skills to bring enough food for their family

The Saw-whet can have as many as 7 hungry owlets to feed

Young-life cycle

The young owlets leave the nest after 4 to 5 weeks

The oldest known owl wild lived to be over 10 years old

Young-eggs

Nests in tree cavities, usually old woodpecker holes.

Adds no nesting material.

Also uses nest boxes

Eggs are white

Usually 5-6 eggs

Incubated for 27-29 days

Bibliography: Appearance by Kobe

http://mdc.mo.gov/news/out/1995/out12015

http://www.migrationresearch.org/research/sawwhet/profile.html

Bibliography: Habitat by Victoria

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/sawwhet.html

http://www.migrationresearch.org/research/sawwhet/profile.html

http://www.wingsoverga.com/SawWhetOwlsinGeorgia.html

Bibliography: Diet by Lakota

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aegolius_acadicus.html

http://www.eraptors.org/rr_norSawWhetOwl.htm

http://sharon.audubon.org/plant_animal/NorthernSawWhetOwl.htm

Bibliography Young by Jiselle

http://www.birdhouses101.com/northern-saw-whet-owl.asp

http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=254

http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek071208.html

http://www.peregrinefund.org/explore_raptors/owls/nsawwhet.html