The Saw-Whet Owl is Canada's Smallest Owl- Facts and Photos of the Saw-Whet Owl- Canadian Wildlife Education Series

The Saw-Whet Owl is Canada's smallest Owl. This tiny bird of prey weighs only 75 - 500 grams and stands a mere 18- 23 cm tall. It is approximately the size of a red winged black bird. It is a solitary bird, except during mating season. The Saw-Whet Owl is a nocturnal raptor.

Saw-whet Owls are strong hunters that eat rodents, voles, shrews, amphibians and small song birds. When food is plentiful it eats it's capture and stores more for later for when food becomes scarce. In the winter when food becomes scarce it locates it's food stash and sits on it to defrost it before consuming it. It's average lifespan is 3-4 years in the wild and more than eight years when living in captivity.


These owls reside throughout Ontario except in colder northern regions. Unable to endure harsh cold winters, many will migrate to warmer regions of the United States. The Saw-Whet Owl inhabits deciduous forests, coniferous forests, trees and sometime shrubs. They will often take up residence where woodpeckers have created cavities in a tree. These owls sleep during the day in areas closer to the ground, they rely on their camouflaged colors to keep them undetected.

Saw-Whet Owls breed are between March and May and the female lays between 3-7 eggs. While the female sits on the eggs the male does the hunting. Once the chicks are born both parents care for them. Other owls are common predators of saw-whet owls, when a threat is perceived they stretch their bodies to take on the shape of a tree branch.

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