Aegolius acadicus acadicus
Status: Rare regular breeder west, rare casual north central. Rare casual summer visitor away from northwest. Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor statewide.
Documentation: Specimen: SUI 28762, Wood River, Hall Co 14 Oct 1884.
Taxonomy: There are two subspecies recognized, brooksi of the Queen Charlotte Islands of western Canada, and acadicus, occupying the remainder of the species’ North American and northern Mexico range (Gill et al 2022).
Nebraska birds are presumed acadicus.
Resident: There is no unequivocal evidence that this species is a resident in Nebraska. Rasmussen et al (2020) suggested that males or pairs “probably maintain territories throughout the year”, but that further study was needed. Natal philopatry is very low. Data in Rasmussen et al (2020) from British Columbia and southwest Idaho showed that none of 83 nestlings and only six of 88 adults, including males and females, returned in subsequent years. In Nebraska in successive summers, however, 2014 and 2015, the same female was netted in the Wildcat Hills, Scotts Bluff Co; she successfully fledged four and six young in those years, suggestive of adequate prey availability that might have allowed overwintering (Mollhoff 2018). Throughout its range, it is generally resident, except at higher elevations and in the northern parts of its range, where it tends to be nomadic based on prey availability (Rasmussen et al 2020). It was considered a “permanent resident” in the Black Hills of South Dakota (Tallman et al 2002), but the authors left this term undefined and may simply mean that the species, but not necessarily the same individuals, can be found all year. Surveys in the Black Hills found this species to be “by far” the most common owl, detected on 93% of survey routes Mar-May (Drilling et al 2018). The Second South Dakota Breeding Bird Atlas (2008-2012) found this species for the first time in the South Dakota section of the Pine Ridge, adjacent to Sheridan Co, Nebraska (Drilling et al 2018).
Spring: winter <<<>>> Apr 12, 22, 22
Departure of wintering birds presumably occurs in Apr, although Rasmussen et al (2020) stated that spring movement in the Great Lakes region ends in late May and early Jun.
Calling begins in late Feb when departure is imminent (Don Poggensee, personal communication). Calling is heard every year mid-Feb into Apr in the cedar canyons of southeast Lincoln Co where the species winters, although calling was heard as early as 26 Jan 2018, record early 12 Jan 2019, and on 30 Jan 2020 (Linda Deeds, personal communication). See also Winter, below. One in downtown Ponca, Dixon Co was calling 25 Feb 2018 at a location where it had been heard “at different times”, and calls were recorded in Douglas Co 27-29 Mar 2020.
Summer: Until recently, the only documented report of breeding in Nebraska was of a pair of adults with three fledged young at Valentine NWR, Cherry Co, 24 Jun 1978 (Mollhoff 2005). Prior to this, there had been no indication that summering birds occurred anywhere but on the Pine Ridge, where, although calling birds on territory had been heard 16 Apr-1 Jun from Chadron SP, Dawes Co westward (Rosche 1982; Johnsgard 1979), there was no documented evidence for nesting there (Ducey 1988).
This situation changed abruptly in spring 2008 when a series of survey transects in forest habitats in the Pine Bluffs area, Kimball Co, Wildcat Hills, Scotts Bluff and Banner Cos, and the Pine Ridge in Sioux and Dawes Cos, yielded a surprising estimate of 20-22 breeding pairs, based on triangulation of calling birds to estimate territories in Apr-early May (Bly 2008). No attempt was made to locate nests; preferred habitat was ponderosa pine woodland with high relief (Bly 2008).
Wayne Mollhoff erected several nest boxes in suitable habitat (Mollhoff 2018). On 17 Apr 2014, Mollhoff found five eggs in a box in the Wildcat Hills; there were four young on 10 May (Mollhoff 2014) and an apparently fledged juvenile at the nest box 25 May. This nest box was in use again in 2015; five of the six chicks were banded 14 May; the sixth chick had fledged. “Barks and screeching” were heard near Wildcat Hills NC 19 Sep 2015 and a two-year-old female was netted 20 and 27 Sep that had been banded in 2014. A different nest box there had six eggs on 17 May 2017; all hatched and were banded, but two were later cannibalized. In 2015-2017, nesting birds were found in three additional locations where nest boxes were erected, but no nesting was reported in 2018 and none of Wayne Mollhoff’s many nest boxes were used in 2019, considered by Mollhoff a four-year low in the population cycle. One nest box in the Wildcat Hills was occupied in 2020, and chicks were hatched rather late 5 May (Wayne Mollhoff, personal communication); calling was heard 5 Jun. Calling single birds were reported in the Wildcat Hills 23-30 May 2021, 20-21 May and 3 Jun 2022, and 22 May and 31 Oct 2023. Older reports from Scotts Bluff Co are of one at Riverside Park Jul 1985, singles at each of two Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co locations Jul and 17 Aug 1985 (Cortelyou 1986), and one found near death in Gering late Aug 2000.
On 15 Feb 2015, an adult was incubating in a nest box in West Ash Canyon, Dawes Co; with first egg dates estimated at 5-6 Feb. This is approximately 6 weeks earlier than the 2014 Scotts Bluff Co nesting and reportedly record-early for the species by approximately two weeks (Mollhoff 2018). This nest produced five chicks that were banded 26 May. One was banded in East Ash Canyon, Dawes Co 1 Sep 2020. Breeding was also documented at another Dawes Co location when three fledged young were photographed two miles south of Chadron SP 18 May 2015 (Wayne Mollhoff, personal communication; Mollhoff 2018). One was heard near Chadron, Dawes Co 17 May 2022. Breeding was documented elsewhere on the Pine Ridge at Gilbert-Baker WMA, Sioux Co on 4 Jun 2020; calls were heard, and a photo taken by a camper the evening before was seen to be conclusive. One was heard at Whiteclay, Sheridan Co 30 Mar 2022.
At NNF Bessey, Thomas Co, a brood of six juveniles was banded 4 May 2016 (Mollhoff 2018, Silcock 2016), two of which were photographed 19 May, and at a private residence with a nest box in the nearby town of Halsey, Thomas Co, three, including two juveniles, were attracted to a tape 16 Jul 2017 (Mollhoff 2018). One was calling at nearby Camp Halsey 28 Apr 2018, a date suggestive of a nesting bird. A Northern Saw-whet Owl had been reported at NNF Bessey 10 May 1988, “most likely a territorial male” (Dwyer 1988).
The Thomas Co breeding record as well as summer reports elsewhere suggest that breeding may occur over much of northern and western Nebraska (Mollhoff 2018). Because the last wintering birds leave by the end of Apr, territorial birds in May-Jun are of interest, as are reports Jul-Aug. The best evidence for likely breeding away from the Panhandle is from Lincoln, Antelope, and Knox Cos and the central Niobrara River Valley west to Cherry Co. Two or three were heard on a night survey of the cedar canyons in southeast Lincoln Co 16 May 2008, and calling birds were heard there 26 Apr 2014 and as late as 3 Jun 2015. A road-killed second-year bird was found near Grove Lake SRA, Antelope Co, 25 May 2002 (UNSM ZM18191, Brogie 2003), followed by the discovery of five calling birds in the upper Verdigre River and Merriman Creek watersheds in northern Antelope and southern Knox Cos 31 Mar-7 Apr 2004; birds were calling in the same areas 23 Mar 2012 and 3 Mar 2016 and along the Verdigre 23 Oct 2023. One was recorded at Niobrara SP, Knox Co 17 May 2022. Recordings were made in the Niobrara River Valley in Keya Paha Co 12 Jun 2019 and at Keller Park SRA, Brown Co 13 Jun 2019. Suggestive of local nesting were four calling at Anderson Bridge WMA, Cherry Co 20 May 2018, and at the Mill Pond area at Valentine, Cherry Co calls were heard and recorded both north and south of the pond 10 Apr-12 May 2021. It was reported in northeast Cherry Co 10 Jun 2017.
The southernmost nest for the state was a failed attempt at Ash Hollow SHP, Garden Co, where a nest with six eggs was found abandoned 18 Apr 2018 (Wayne Mollhoff, personal communication; Mollhoff 2018); a previous report there was for 16-17 May 1986 (Rosche 1994).
Reports elsewhere of calling singles are at Champion Mill SHP, Chase Co 23 Jun 1996; Smith Falls SP (no date given); Ponca SP 4 Jul 2016; Lancaster Co 15 Jul 1974 and 28 Jul and 20 Aug 1969; one on an Omaha, Douglas Co Stop sign 8 Aug 1979 (Bellinghiere 1980); and 19-23 Jun 1964 Douglas-Sarpy Cos.
There are old reports of nesting in the Missouri Valley, none, however, since Carriker’s second-hand report of an alleged nesting, with no date, and only vague location listed (Nebraska City, Otoe County). We do not believe this nesting record is acceptably documented. It was originally reported by Carriker at the first NOU meeting in 1899, and later published in the Proceedings of the NOU (Carriker 1900). In the article, Carriker himself stated that he had never found a nest but was merely talking about a nest found by “2 other guys about 7 years ago.” (Wayne Mollhoff, personal communication; Silcock 1979, Ducey 1988). There was, however, a successful nesting in Doniphan Co, Kansas, in 1951 (Thompson et al 2011).
- Breeding Phenology:
Eggs: 5 Feb- 30 Apr (Mollhoff 2022)
Nestlings: 4-26 May
Fledglings: 14 May-24 Jun
Fall: Oct 11, 11, 12 <<<>>> winter
Earlier dates are 16 Sep 2009 Omaha, Douglas Co, 19-20 Sep Ponca SP, Dixon Co, 29 Sep 1972 a calling bird in Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy Co, 2 Oct 2009 one calling at Chadron SP, Dawes Co, 6 Oct 2022 Keith Co, 7 Oct 2022 Brown Co, and 9 Oct 2014 cedar canyons of Lincoln Co.
A female specimen, HMM 28234, was collected at Hastings, Adams Co 12 Oct 1953.
Arrival is in mid-Oct; earlier reports may be of birds that summered locally.
In eastern Nebraska, a banding study in Lancaster Co 2019-2021 captured 32 birds over the three years, 23 of which were hatch year (HY) and 22 of which were females; migration peaked during the first two weeks of Nov and captures were made 15 Oct-22 Nov (Brenner and Jorgensen 2021). Fall of 2020 was an invasion year; Brenner and Jorgensen (2020) banded 20 Saw-whets in 82.5 net hours 15 Oct-19 Nov. Of these, 17 were HY birds and 80% were female, both typical for invasion year migrant demographics. These 2020 data are included in the authors’ 2021 study (Brenner and Jorgensen 2021) as were two birds captured in 2019 (Brenner and Jorgensen 2019).
The 2021 Brenner and Jorgensen study compares well with data from Hitchcock Nature Center showing the first week of Nov to be the fall migration peak at this latitude. Jerry Toll (personal communication) has banded Saw-whet Owls 2009-2017 inclusive at Hitchcock Nature Center, Pottawattamie Co, Iowa, only a few miles east of the Missouri River from Washington Co, Nebraska; his study showed earliest arrivals 8, 10, and 10 Oct (average 15 Oct) and departures 26, 26, and 28 Nov (average 20 Nov); netting is ended when there have been three straight sessions of no captures, usually around Thanksgiving.
A netting study by Kim (2005) in Hall Co captured 14 birds 28 Oct-20 Dec 2004 in 370 net hours; all identified to sex (10) were females. Kim (2005) noted that females predominate in netting captures southward and eastward in the United States. Jerry Toll’s banding study in nearby Pottawattamie Co, Iowa yielded a similar sex ratio; of a total of 508 birds banded 2009-2017 inclusive, 63 were of undetermined sex and of the remaining 445, 86.3% were female and 59.8% were HY birds. In Lancaster Co 2019-2021 22 of 25 captured owls (88%) were female (Brenner and Jorgensen 2021). Of nine birds banded in Washington and Saunders Cos 2-9 Nov 2017 by Abbe Richardson and Jerry Toll, six were females, two males, one unknown, and six were hatch year birds.
Winter: Winter visitors occur statewide, although most reports are from population centers; birds may be found in either coniferous or riparian woodland. Good numbers winter in the cedar canyons of southeastern Lincoln Co (Linda Deeds, personal communication); on 20 Feb 2020 13 were heard “calling along the road with 1-3 birds at each of our stops in areas of dense cedars. Eleven out of the thirteen were singing spontaneously with the other two responding to playback, and twelve out of the thirteen were along a 2.5-mile stretch of the road” (Sam Manning, eBird.org).
In nearby Ida County, Iowa, Don Poggensee has tracked wintering saw-whet owls for almost 30 years, and Jerry Toll has banded many of them. Interestingly, banding data show that all birds are HY individuals, which use the exact same roosting trees that were used by previous years’ HY birds. Perhaps related is the presence of porphyrins in the underwing coverts and flight feathers that are visible in UV light and are used to age these owls (http://www.birdfellow.com); deposits of porphyrins may be left on preferred winter roost trees that allow their subsequent re-discovery by a new group of HY birds (Shari Schwartz, personal communication).
Winter of 2020-2021 provided 12 reports statewide at nine locations; best count was three in Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux Co 6 Jan.
Images
Acknowledgments
Jerry Toll generously provided his extensive banding data from neighboring Pottawattamie Co, Iowa.
Abbreviations
HMM: Hastings Municipal Museum
HY: Hatch Year
NC: Nature Center
NNF: Nebraska National Forest
NOU: Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union
NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
SHP: State Historical Park
SP: State Park
SRA: State Recreation Area
SUI: University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
WMA: Wildlife Management Area (State)
Literature Cited
Bellinghiere, S. 1980. Saw-whet Owl. NBR 48: 24.
Bly, B. 2008. Nighttime Surveys in Nebraska Panhandle Yield Interesting Results. The Primary Source 28: 6.
Brenner, S.J. and J.G. Jorgensen. 2019. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadius) banding during fall migration in eastern Nebraska (2019 pilot season). Nongame Bird Program of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Brenner, S.J., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2020. Northern Saw-whet Owl banding in eastern Nebraska during fall 2020 — a major flight year. Nongame Bird Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Brenner S.J., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2021. Northern Saw-whet Owl autumn migration in eastern Nebraska: results from a three-year banding study. NBR 89: 175-180.
Brogie, M.A. 2003. 2002 (14th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 71: 136-142.
Carriker, M.A., Jr. 1900. Some notes on the nesting of the raptors of Otoe County. Proceedings of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union 1: 29-34.
Cortelyou, R.G. 1986. 1985 (Twenty-eighth) Fall Occurrence Report. NBR 54: 7-24.
Drilling, N.E., E.D Stukel, R.A. Sparks, and B.J. Woiderski. 2018. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds of South Dakota. SDGFP, Wildlife Division Report 2017-02. South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre.
Ducey, J.E. 1988. Nebraska birds, breeding status and distribution. Simmons-Boardman Books, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Dwyer, M. 1988. Additional reports from Thomas County, spring 1988. NBR 56: 99.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Johnsgard, P.A. 1979. Birds of the Great Plains: breeding species and their distribution. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Kim, D.H. 2005. Northern Saw-whet Owls: rare or overlooked? An example from the central Platte Valley. NBR 73: 67-70.
Mollhoff, W.J. 2005. The 2005 Nebraska nest report. NBR 73: 119-123.
Mollhoff, W.J. 2014. First documented nest of Northern Saw-whet Owl in Nebraska. NBR 82: 189-193.
Mollhoff, W.J. 2018. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) Nest Box Project: The First Seven Years. NBR 86: 168-174.
Mollhoff, W.J. 2022. Nest records of Nebraska birds. Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Occasional Paper Number 9.
Rasmussen, J.L., S.G. Sealy, and R.J. Cannings. 2020. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.nswowl.01.
Rosche, R.C. 1982. Birds of northwestern Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota, an annotated checklist. Cottonwood Press, Crawford, Nebraska, USA.
Rosche, R.C. 1994. Birds of the Lake McConaughy area and the North Platte River valley, Nebraska. Published by the author, Chadron, Nebraska, USA.
Silcock, W.R. 1979. Some comments on the “Breeding Birds of Nebraska”. NBR 47: 38-39.
Silcock, W.R. 2016. Spring Field Report, Mar 2016 to May 2016. NBR 84: 58- 85.
Tallman, D.A., Swanson, D.L., and J.S. Palmer. 2002. Birds of South Dakota. Midstates/Quality Quick Print, Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA.
Thompson, M.C., C.A. Ely, B. Gress, C. Otte, S.T. Patti, D. Seibel, and E.A. Young. 2011. Birds of Kansas. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2023. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 25 Dec 2023