Saw-Whet Owl

Do you love birds? And are you in love with owls? So let me tell you the smallest and cutest North American owl - Saw-Whet Owl.

Image source: Google: https://www.owlresearchinstitute.org/

Kingdom- Animalia

Phylum- Chordata

Family- Strigidae

Class- Aves

Genus- Aegolius

Species- acadicus

Habitat -

They live in coniferous and deciduous forests. They also love old nests made by other birds like woodpeckers. They are found in swampy or wet areas.

Size -

These owls can grow up to 18- 22 cm 

Weight -

an adult male can be 54 to 151 g (average- 80g) and average females are 100g.

Females are larger than males. 

Lifespan-

 They can live up to 7 years. But if kept in captivity they can live up to 16 years.

Diet - 

They eat small dear mice, shrews, small birds, squirrels, insects, voles, etc 

Migration -

some of them migrate from North America to South America in winters. 

They have outstanding low-light vision.

They have Y-shaped marking between the above eyes. 

They do not have ear tufts

They are found in North America and Southern Canada.

Eggs-

 they lays about4- 6 white color eggs. 

The United States does not allow private individuals to rear them.

Nesting -

Male sing songs and build up a nest for attracting the females. Then the female checks and selects the best nest and male.

When the female is warming( incubating) up to their eggs. All the food is brought by the male. The incubation period lasts from 21 - 28  days. Once the baby birds develop their feathers the mother leaves the male partner. And go in the search of another male partner. 

They have porphyrin pigment in their wings. When they are exposed to UV rays. The wings become fluorescent and neon pink.

All these characters make them so cute.