• Michelle Wood: SWCD

I spotted a northern hawk owl

• Michelle Wood: SWCD
• February 16, 2018
• 1521

It seems most birders who travel to Duluth, Minnesota in January or February are searching primarily for great gray owls. I can understand that, but my favorite is the northern hawk owl. About the same size as long-eared and short-eared owls, this beautiful owl also is similar in size and actions to a Cooper’s hawk. In fact, when we saw our northern hawk owl last week, the first thought was “here comes an accipiter.”

The northern hawk owl,Surnia ulula, is the only member of this genus. It occurs across Canada, Northern Europe and Asia, nesting in forest tundra and boreal taiga from the tree line south to larger forested areas. Hawk owls prefer areas with scattered trees including birch, aspen, mixed woodland and pines, always with access to open areas for hunting. (Handbook of the Birds of the World, volume 5).

Hawk owls hunt during the day from perches at the top of trees, especially trees with broken tops. They usually fly low and swoop up to a perch, which we saw twice, and also will hover while hunting. Voles are their preferred food source, but hawk owls will hunt small birds and other small mammals, especially when voles are in short supply.

Northern hawk owls move south during winters when vole numbers are low in their northern homes. On average this happens every four years. This is usually the same cycle as boreal and great gray owls.

In talking with Ryan Steiner, who studies and bands these owls in the Duluth area, the cycles do vary. In recent years these owls have sometimes come south after three or five years.

Since there is a concerted effort to band these owls, researchers now have a better idea of the number of owls that are moving south in these invasion years. The banding is especially important for small nocturnal owls such as boreals and northern saw-whet owls, which are rarely seen. Ryan helps band these small owls at Duluth each fall.

The hawk owl we were fortunate to watch for 10 minutes put on quite a show. We had stopped to look at a gray jay that was perched on a small dead tree. While I was taking photos of the jay, the bird suddenly looked up and started making what I assume were alarm calls.

About that time a northern hawk owl flew in low and fast over our car and swooped up to the top of a pine tree. The gray jay had disappeared while a black-backed woodpecker landed in another dead tree close to our car. It also quickly disappeared, leaving the hawk owl looking around from its perch.

We had plenty of time to take photos and enjoy this very special owl. Eventually it flew back over our car and landed on a broken-off tree on the other side of the road. All this time the owl appeared to pay no attention to us, which is typical for hawk owls, making them easy targets for anyone who might want to harm them.

Since these owls rarely show up in the Northern United States, it is always a special privilege to see one. Minnesota seems to be the best place this winter, although sometimes these owls show up in Northern Michigan. I first saw a northern hawk owl near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan many years ago. This hawk owl was much closer and really put on a show, one that I’ll not forget.

Next week we’ll look at the well-named great gray owl. Good birding,

Bruce Glick can be reached at birderbruce@yahoo.com or 330-317-7798.