Northern Saw-whet Owl 001

The sky was clear and filled with stars as I listened to the mating call of a male northern saw-whet owl earlier this week. The rhythmic tooting song went on for some time in the stillness of the night. It is not a sound that you would think an owl would make. It’s kind of like a whistle. People refer it to the sound of a whetstone sharpening a saw. I called back but the owl never did come into view.

I put the snowshoes on early the next morning and searched the dense spruce, pine and balsam woods around our house but couldn’t find him. Here are some photos of other saw-whet’s that I have encountered over the last few years.

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Northern Saw-whet Owl 002

They are the smallest owl along the North Shore and weigh no more than a robin. With their little round head and big eyes, I think they are the cutest of the owls. The sun was setting when I took this photo adding just the right light.

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Northern Saw-whet Owl 003

They spend the day in the thick branches of conifers. If you do happen to find one they don’t seem to be bothered by your presence. This one was next to our bird feeder, which is a good place to catch mice.

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Northern Saw-whet Owl 004

A friend had found a northern saw-whet nest a couple of years ago. That is where I got to photograph this female.

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Northern Saw-whet Owl 005

She would stick her head out every once in a while, out of curiosity.

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Northern Saw-whet Owlet Owl 006

The young look very different than the adults.

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