The Northern Saw-Whet Owl is a very small species of owl, they are known for their big round head and wide orange eyes.
Their backs and wings are covered in brown feathers and their underbellies are pale in colour.
These birds have a very large range and will almost always nest in dense forests, they seem to prefer staying in mature forests if they are able to.
It is most important for them to nest in denser areas of forest during their breeding seasons. The monogamy of this owl can depend on prey abundance.
Whilst most males are completely monogamous, in seasons of high prey abundance, some males have been known to mate with another individual.
These breeding pairs are not long lasting as they will mate with new individuals in each subsequent breeding season.
Because of their small size, these owls are also often preyed on by a variety of larger owl species, including several that we have previously looked at in this article.
These birds are most commonly found in New York outside of their breeding seasons, but some will stay in the state year-round.
They can be seen in all regions of the state with the highest number of recorded sightings being in the south east of the state.