Skip to main content

Donate

Birds
Live Cams
Courses
Merlin Bird ID

Donate

Northern Saw-whet Owl Range Map

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Range Map
Sightings Map

Range Map for Northern Saw-whet Owl

Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding

Migration

Resident to long-distance migrant. Many individuals migrate south or to lower elevations for the winter, while others stay in one place year-round. About once every 4 years they irrupt, heading south in much higher numbers than usual. They migrate at night, using several known migration routes across the continent, and can cross large expanses of water.

Learn more at Birds of the World

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Eastern Screech-Owl

Western Screech-Owl

Looking for ID Help?

Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Species in This Family

Owls(Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae)

Flammulated Owl

Western Screech-Owl

Eastern Screech-Owl

Great Horned Owl

Northern Hawk Owl

Northern Pygmy-Owl

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Short-eared Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read

NestWatchBuild a Nest Box for Northern Saw-whet Owls
Bird AcademyPeek at Night Birds While Hearing Their Nocturnal Calls
K–12 EducationDissecting the Food Web: An Owl Pellet Investigation

Living Bird MagazineRaptors and Rat Poison
Is it unusual to see American Robins in the middle of winter?
Living Bird MagazineBirdwatching Tips: It's Summer... Where Did the Birds Go?

About Us

Contact Us

Follow us

© 2024 Cornell University

Search for species name or keywords

Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.