Saw-whet Owls
The saw-whet owl is a North American small owl. They are known for their unique call, which some say sounds like a like a saw being sharpened on a whetting stone. They are a popular bird in the bird research community, as their migration patterns were not well understood. Project Owlnet, established in the 90's, aims to change this, and has documented the migration of thousands of owls.
Fun Facts about Saw-Whet Owls
Diet
Saw-whet owls feed primarily on small mice and to a lesser extent. Engel (2015) found that their diet may change in the winter, although no other studies support this. Reported to also eat birds, some of which are larger than themselves.
Life
Unfortunately, these magnificent little birds tend to only live a few years, with the oldest bird on record being 9 years old. Tend to be monogamous, although this may vary depending on how much prey is out there, including larger birds.
Migration patterns depend on several factors, including the temperature patterns and the number of acorns that dropped. A large number of acorns leads to more mice and thus more owls. 2017 has been a down year across New England for banders. They tend to migrate through Northeast US in October and November months.
Join Our Team
