Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
Description
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is short-bodied with a large, round head and no ear tufts. Their white eyebrows connect over their beak to make a “Y”. They have bright yellow eyes and a light brown facial disk. The Saw-whet’s chest is white with brown streaks. Juveniles have white eyebrows like adults, but their head and back are dark brown while their chest and belly are a rusty orange.
Diet
These owls eat mainly small mammals and occasionally small birds and insects.
Migration
In Colorado, there are some populations of Northern Saw-whet Owls that live here year-round and some that migrate out of state for the winter.
Breeding
Northern Saw-whet Owls are secondary cavity nesters, which means they need to find a cavity in a tree that is either natural or created by a woodpecker or a flicker. The females will lay anywhere from four to nine eggs, but on average five to six. The babies typically fledge the nest after four to five weeks.