The Northern Saw-whet Owl

Appearance - What do their faces look like Their face is pale with white streaks on its crown

Appearance - What does their body look like Smallest owl in North America, only 20 cm’s long and weighing 100 grams Males and females are the same colour, females are larger White chest with brown body with white spots They also have ear tufts that stick up on both sides of the head

Appearance - Hearing The Northern Saw-whet owl’s face acts like an outer ear. It’s face is shaped like two satellite dishes that funnel sound to their ears.

HABITAT-CLIMATE They like mature forests in areas near water. They prefer moderate climates and migrate south to Prince Edward Island.

HABITAT-WORLD In summer their range expands from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. They live in Eastern North America. They breed in New England and Eastern Canada. During the winter, their range may expand southward but generally no further than Wisconsin.

Habitat-making their home! They nest in natural tree cavities, wood- pecker holes and man made nest boxes. Some use bird houses. They live in thick coniferous, young cedars, spruce and pine trees.

Habitat-choosing the home! males choose and defend territories to which they attract females by calling.

Diet-What do they eat? Mainly eats insects and rodents They also eat deer, mice, rats, and small squirrels The Northern Saw-Whet eat other birds Also animals larger then itself

How do they catch their prey? It waits for prey on low perches and drops down on them. Searches for food by flying close to the grown. They have small hairs on the edges of their wings so they can fly silently and sneak up on their prey.

How do owls eat their food? Owls swallow their prey whole They tear it into small pieces They can bend down to their talons and eat their prey because they have very flexible necks.

How do they digest their pellet They spit up their food They have bones in the pellet It 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