The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small, secretive owl measuring about 7–8 inches in length with a rounded head, no ear tufts, large yellow eyes, and mottled brown and white plumage. In Arizona, it inhabits high-elevation coniferous and mixed conifer–aspen forests, especially in the state’s northern and eastern mountains, though it can also occur in the Madrean Sky Islands of the southeast. Primarily nocturnal, it roosts quietly in dense foliage by day and hunts at night for small mammals, particularly deer mice, as well as insects and small birds. The species is often more common than its elusive nature suggests, its presence more likely detected in spring when males give their repetitive, high-pitched “too-too-too” calls. Northern Saw-whet Owls nest in tree cavities, often those excavated by woodpeckers, and readily use nest boxes. While considered a year-round resident in suitable habitat in Arizona, some individuals migrate or move downslope in winter, especially in years of scarce prey.
