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Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Bird · family Strigidae · order Strigiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
42 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
14 years[4]

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small bird in the owl family Strigidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives this owl a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. In the United States it is ranked Secure for both breeding and nonbreeding birds[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. Some states rank it lower than the national rank does, so state status can differ[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[10] Appendix II

Where Northern Saw-whet Owl lives

NatureServe lists the Northern Saw-whet Owl as native in 42 US states and territories[3]. These include Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming, along with many others on the full list[3]. NatureServe ranks it as possibly gone from Indiana[11]. The map on this page shows the state ranks[9].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: native, state rank S4N,S5BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S3B,S3NVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4NHWashington: native, state rank S4B,S4NWAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: native, state rank S4MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNANDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNMNIllinois: native, state rank S1ILMichigan: native, state rank S3MINew York: native, state rank S3NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S3B,S5NMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S4NVWyoming: native, state rank S4WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S2B,SNRNSDIowa: native, state rank SNAIAIndiana: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SHBINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: native, state rank S3B,S4N,S3MPANew Jersey: native, state rank SU,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S2BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S1B,S1NRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S3NEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: native, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S2B,S2NWVVirginia: native, state rank S1B,S2NVAMaryland: native, state rank S1BMDDelaware: native, state rank S1NDEArizona: native, state rank S4AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4B,S4NNMKansas: native, state rank SNAKSArkansas: native, state rank SNAARTennessee: native, state rank S1TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S2B,S2NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S2SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S1NDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: native, state rank S2NALGeorgia: native, state rank S3GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (43 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
ArizonaS4Apparently Secure
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS2BImperiled (breeding)
DelawareS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
District of ColumbiaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
GeorgiaS3Vulnerable
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
IllinoisS1Critically Imperiled
IndianaSHBPossibly Extirpated (breeding)
IowaSNANot Applicable
KansasSNANot Applicable
KentuckySNANot Applicable
MaineS4N,S5BApparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
MarylandS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
MassachusettsS3B,S5NVulnerable (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MichiganS3Vulnerable
MinnesotaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
MontanaS4Apparently Secure
NebraskaS3Vulnerable
NevadaS4Apparently Secure
New HampshireS4Apparently Secure
New JerseySU,S4NUnrankable, Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS3Vulnerable
North CarolinaS2B,S2NImperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNANot Applicable
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS3B,S4N,S3MVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding), Vulnerable (migrant)
Rhode IslandS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS2Imperiled
South DakotaS2B,SNRNImperiled (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
TennesseeS1Critically Imperiled
UtahS3Vulnerable
VermontS3B,S3NVulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
VirginiaS1B,S2NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
WashingtonS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
West VirginiaS2B,S2NImperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure
WyomingS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records two habitat types for this owl, conifer forest and mixed forest[12]. It likes dense evergreen or mixed woods, and also cedar groves, alder thickets, swamps and bogs[13]. When it is not breeding, it may also use thick young woods, brushy areas, dry scrub and open buildings[13]. It usually nests in an old woodpecker hole, another tree cavity or a nest box[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

This owl is about 20 cm (8 in) long[14]. It weighs about 91 g[15]. It eats mostly small mammals such as mice, voles and shrews, and sometimes birds and insects[16]. One estimate puts its diet at 80% warm-blooded vertebrates and 20% invertebrates[17]. It hunts by pouncing from a perch above its prey[16]. A clutch is usually about 5 to 6, and the female incubates for 26 to 28 days[18]. Young birds first fly at 4 to 5 weeks[18]. The oldest known wild bird was at least 14 years 5 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 20 cm (8 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 91 g (3.2 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 17.5 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 14 years 5 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 5.5
Gestation or incubation[21] 27 days
Female maturity[22] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[23] Carnivore, Invertivore
Migration[24] non-migrant, local migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[17]

  • 80% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 20% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is nocturnal and crepuscular, which means it is active at night and around dawn and dusk[25]. NatureServe describes it as a local migrant in some places and a non-migrant in others[24]. In the east and north, birds make fairly long north and south trips, and in western mountains they may move up and down slopes[26]. In New Jersey, most fall migration finished between mid-October and mid-November[26]. Nesting runs from March to July in the northeastern US, mostly in April and May[18]. Records on GBIF are highest in January, February and December[27]. These records show when people look and report, not how many owls there are[27].

January: 13,285 recordsJanFebruary: 11,571 recordsFebMarch: 10,995 recordsMarApril: 6,573 recordsAprMay: 6,286 recordsMayJune: 3,668 recordsJunJuly: 1,790 recordsJulAugust: 1,372 recordsAugSeptember: 2,746 recordsSepOctober: 8,889 recordsOctNovember: 9,243 recordsNovDecember: 11,064 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[27].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January13,285
February11,571
March10,995
April6,573
May6,286
June3,668
July1,790
August1,372
September2,746
October8,889
November9,243
December11,064

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Northern Saw-whet Owl as present in 104 park units[28]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 80 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania[29]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Saw-whet Owl endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, Secure, worldwide[2].
Where does the Northern Saw-whet Owl live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 42 US states and territories[3]. It lives in dense conifer and mixed forest, along with swamps and bogs[12][13].
What does the Northern Saw-whet Owl eat?
It eats mainly small mammals such as mice, voles and shrews, and sometimes birds and insects[16].
How big is a Northern Saw-whet Owl?
It is about 20 cm (8 in) long[14]. It weighs about 91 g[15].
How long does a Northern Saw-whet Owl live?
The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 14 years 5 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Saw-whet Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Saw-whet Owl: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Saw-whet Owl as native in 42 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Northern Saw-whet Owl from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 14 years 5 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a bird in the family Strigidae, order Strigiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Northern Saw-whet Owl is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Saw-whet Owl (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Northern Saw-whet Owl as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Indiana. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Saw-whet Owl: Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Saw-whet Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 20 cm (8 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 91 g (3.2 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Saw-whet Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 80% warm-blooded vertebrates, 20% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Saw-whet Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 17.5 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 5.5. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 27 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  23. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe migration category for Northern Saw-whet Owl: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on migration for Northern Saw-whet Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  27. GBIF observation records of Northern Saw-whet Owl in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  28. NPSpecies park lists recording Northern Saw-whet Owl as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  29. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Northern Saw-whet Owl: California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.