Credit: Jan Stefka
North American field guide
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereus
Also known as:Tengmalm's Owl
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Identification
Field notes
23-25 cm (9-10") Fairly common but usually restricted to northern Canadian boreal forests and muskegs.
Small flatheaded earless owl with yellow eyes. White underneath streaked with chocolate brown. Told from similar Saw-whet Owl by its spotting on forehead and crown, light bill and black bordered facial disk.
Strictly nocturnal.
Very tame.
Song: repeated "ting-ting-ting-ting-ting" like water dripping.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Credit: Marcel Holyoak
Watch and learn
Videos
Boreal Owl in Soo backyard
Credit: Joe PetroloBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Boreal Owl
1 ruleRule 1 7 criteria · confidence 2
- Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?
- No · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Owl
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States