By Kameron Perensovich on Flickr, CC Northern Saw-whet Owls are one of the smallest owls in the world. Remington, Our New Saw-whet Owl, Fits Easily Into a Hand. The Saw-whet is the smallest of our Northeastern owls measuring about 7 or 8 inches tall. Northern Saw-whet Owl. The face is light brown, outlined in dark brown and white streaks. Saw-whets are a small owl species (they weigh about 1/5 of a pound) that breeds in forests across the northern United States and southern Canada. Named for its repeated tooting whistle, some say the bird sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone. Where mice and other small mammals are concerned this fierce, silent owl is anything but cute. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a white facial disc, and a "surprised" appearance. A tiny owl with a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is practically bursting with attitude. Avoiding notice is a task at which this owl often succeeds; it is overlooked in many places where it occurs. One of the most common owls in forests across northern North America (and across the U.S. in winter), saw-whets are highly nocturnal and seldom seen. The tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl is almost as diminutive as the Elf Owl and Peru's Long-whiskered Owlet. The Saw-whet Owl is a forest or woodland inhabitant of varied elevation and vegetation. It has bright yellow eyes and a large, rounded head without ear tufts. The Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius Acadicus), is a member of the Strigidae classification of owls from the 26 genera known as typical owls.This distinction is divided down to four Aegolius species commonly called 'small forest owls'. A tiny owl with a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is practically bursting with attitude. When alarmed they make a ‘skiew’ call similar to a saw being sharpened on a whetstone, thus earning them their name. Where mice and other small mammals are concerned this fierce, silent owl is anything but cute. The boreal owl is an unsociable nocturnal owl. Interesting Facts. When alarmed they make a ‘skiew’ call similar to a saw being sharpened on a whetstone, thus earning them their name. Where mice and other small mammals are concerned this fierce, silent owl is anything but cute. Birders who prowl through conifer groves in winter sometimes find this round-headed little gnome perched there, sitting still as if to avoid notice. General Description. Where mice and other small mammals are concerned this fierce, silent owl is anything but cute. Named for the resemblance of one of their calls to the sound of saw teeth being sharpened, Northern Saw-whet Owls are small, chestnut-brown owls with prominent white markings on the folded wings and brown-and-white striped chests and bellies. The northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a small owl native to North America. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to complete subscription. Avoiding notice is a task at which this owl often succeeds; it is overlooked in many places where it occurs. John Henry Keen who was a missionary in Canada in 1896. Northern Saw-whet Owls can be easily distinguished from other owls by their small size and markings such as the white “V” over their eyes. ... Construction Plan By downloading this nest box plan you will be subscribed to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and NestWatch enewsletters. Despite their population in coniferous forests across North America, it is rather difficult to spot a northern saw-whet owl in the wild. Northern Saw-whet Owl Nest box Plan and Information. Although the Northern Saw-whet Owl (hereafter Saw-whet Owl) is one of the most common owls in forested habitats across southern Canada and the northern United States, much remains to be learned about its populations, distribution and movements, behavior, and breeding biology. A tiny owl with a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is practically bursting with attitude. Interesting Facts. A tiny owl with a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is practically bursting with attitude. Northern Saw-Whet Owl - Cute Trickster. Like most owls, the Saw-whet is active at night, and hunts from a low perch waiting for a woodland mouse to move nearby. A tiny owl with a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is practically bursting with attitude. It is a rare sight in Maryland, near the southern extent of its breeding range. Young birds are chocolate brown.