Northern Saw-whet Owl

The Northern Saw-whet Owl emits a series of
whistled notes, sometimes repeated about
100 times per minute, that sound like a
large mill saw being sharpened or "whet."
As with most owls, this species is most
easily located when pairs issue their
courtship calls at night, from mid-
winter well into early spring. Streamside
woodlands and thickets, orchards and
city parks with a good mix of decidu-
ous and coniferous trees provide
essential habitat for this opportunis-
tic hunter of insects, small rodents,
birds and amphibians. It may hunt
at any time but is most active at
dawn and dusk. The George C.
Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary,
Stanley Park, Burnaby Lake and
Capilano Canyon Regional Park
are among the many good
places to find Northern Saw-
whet Owls year-round.

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