Saw-whet Owl

Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius arcadicus
Photograph by Harold and Hal Wierenga

Like all Northern Saw-whet Owls, this one prefers the shelter of dense evergreen groves, as it is seen here amidst some pines at Sandy Point State Park. The Saw-whet’s name refers to the sound of its raspy call, which resembles the sound of a saw being sharpened. The species is distinguished by its rich reddish-brown coloring, dark bill, and relatively small size, averaging seven to eight inches in length. The Saw-whet is smaller than all other eastern North American owls except the Eastern Screech-owl, from which it is distinguished by a lack of ear tufts. It feeds primarily on small mammals and is strictly nocturnal.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is found across North America, from southern Alaska through the central provinces of Canada to the Atlantic Coast. It is a rare sight in Maryland, near the southern extent of its breeding range. Because of the species’ preference for boreal habitats, most sightings have occurred in western portions of the State. A rather fearless bird by nature, the Saw-whet owl was characterized by one ornithologist as “one of our most winsome birds. It has beauty, talent, character, curiosity, and personality.”