: Residency probably limited to adult males. in open mature coniferous and mixed woodlands with large enough trees to support nest holes, but essentially undetectable except when singing. Peak period for male's nocturnal song mid Feb-early Apr on calm nights beginning about two hours after sunset but some singing continues throughout the year. Listen here.
Migrant: but rarely detected late Sep-early Nov. A bird was seen flying around a whale watch boat 23 miles south of MDI in mid Oct 2003 and several birds have been detected on Mount Desert Rock. Locally raised young and some/many of their mothers probably migrate.
Miscellany: Saw-whet Owl populations vary with those of their small rodent prey. In our area, the latter depends on the size of the spruce and fir cone crop. A Saw-whet banding station operating just to our east at Petit Manan Point every night, weather permitting, between late Sep and early Nov 2015-2020 banded between 170 Saw-whets on the worst year (2017) and 453 on the best (2020). On the two best nights over that time period more than 70 Saw-whets were banded. In the big owl flight years, most of the birds are young and the rest adult females. Adults males appear to stay put.
Last Updated: June 4th, 2022