Northern Saw-Whet Owl – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:39:07 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png Northern Saw-Whet Owl – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Cutest Little Carnivore https://owlsintowels.org/cutest-little-carnivore/ https://owlsintowels.org/cutest-little-carnivore/#respond Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4899 A Saw-Whet Owl is wrapped in a cosy seafoam coloured garment, looking towards camera with rich sunflower yellow eyes twinkling from a trio of reflected ceiling lights. A syringe of fluid is administered to his open beak by a human wearing lavender nitrile gloves. It's possible he has the barest hint of a scowl in response to the fluids, but it might just be a stray black feather or two, making it look like a raised bottom eyelid. He's a little pink around the maw, probably from his latest meal of diced + defrosted animal treats, being the little carnivore that he is.

8th of Owltober!

This Northern Saw-Whet Owl has featured before, but this particular photo of him is so good it deserves a post of its own.

Original post – 12 Mar 2024
by Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital

located in Ithaca, New York, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

This tiny saw whet owl was found lying in the middle of a busy road on a dark evening a few days ago in Ithaca, NY. Luckily he was noticed by a Cornell faculty member (and bird of prey expert!) that happened to be driving that way. He was gently gathered up in a soft blanket and whisked right to our front door, where our emergency team arrived to provide him with immediate care. Weighing in at only 75 grams (similar in weight to a kiwi fruit!), this owl, although a strong predator in the wild, is a delicate patient that requires extra special care.

Thankfully, after supportive treatments and thorough testing, he is determined to be releasable, and is well on his way to a complete recovery!

Link to donate to Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/cutest-little-carnivore/feed/ 0 Not Quite Owls in ‘Towels’ https://owlsintowels.org/not-quite-owls-in-towels/ https://owlsintowels.org/not-quite-owls-in-towels/#respond Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4735 A Saw-Whet Owl is pouched in a cotton draw-string bag in the hands of a bander. She looks directly at camera with eyes yellow and wide: one eye lit from above-left, the other occluded in shadow. Feathers are muted brown with streaks of cream-white radiating from the eyes. The pouch is white with light blue stripes like the Uruguayan flag (1828-1830). In the background atop a wooden desk and out of focus is a chart with bars of yellow - likely for registering the hue of each banded owl's eyes as part of the migration research.

Original post: 09 Oct 2019
by Cornell Lab of Ornithology / All About Birds

located in Ithaca, New York, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original caption text:

A saw-whet is ready for a quick exam when researchers will collect data and affix an identifying leg band.

The tiny owls are wrapped up in cloth bags to keep them calm until itโ€™s time for researchers to conduct a brief examination.

Three identical pouches are strung from a horizontal cord, affixed with wooden clothes pegs like garments on a washing line. The pouches, I think it's safe to assume, are laden with one Saw-Whet Owl each. Some trust has been placed in the springs of the pegs, given that these little goobers typically weigh around 80 grams or 2.8 ounces. For reference that's the weight of a very small banana, or a hefty lemon, but those things rarely try to escape once put in a bag.

The full story A Grassroots Banding Project Reveals How Amazing Northern Saw-whet Owls Are by Scott Weidensaul is worth a read ๐Ÿ™‚

Link to donate to Cornell Lab of Ornithology for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/not-quite-owls-in-towels/feed/ 0 Just the Back and Sides https://owlsintowels.org/just-the-back-and-sides/ https://owlsintowels.org/just-the-back-and-sides/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=3864 A Saw-whet Owl is wrapped in a textured vanilla towel, held upright by the spread digits of a rehabilitator in aqua-blue scrubs. The owl's eyes are dilated, and lids relaxed, giving an expression of sedate nonchalance. Irises appear as half rings of cadmium yellow. The shape of the wrap is trapezoidal (a wrapezoid?), or in 3D a frustum, which combined with the owl's feathery orb of a head makes an outline like a chess pawn, or an old-timey keyhole. Or a patron at the barber.

Original post – 21 Mar 2020
in Seattle, Washington, US
Photo: ANNIE MARIE MUSSELMAN
website | instagram

Original text:

Here is a rescued northern saw-whet owl at a wildlife rehab center near Seattle where I worked and photographed for 7 years.โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/just-the-back-and-sides/feed/ 0 Saw-Whet Studies https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-studies/ https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-studies/#respond Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=3636 An amber-eyed Saw-Whet Owl is contained in a draw-string pouch with a green and white zigzag pattern. On the table behind and out of focus is a pair of red handles, most likely belonging to a banding tool used for attaching a metal bracelet to the owl's foot. Researchers assign each band a unique code to help study species movements, migration and population estimates, and contribute to conservation efforts. The bands are lightweight and do not impact the owl's natural day-to-day living.

Blue Ridge Audubon recently awarded a grant to study Northern Saw-whet Owl migration in the Appalachian Mountains. Funding will provide researchers with GPS and radio tags to track this secretive forest species.

Photo: SEAN GRAESSER

Original post – 18 Dec 2025
by Blue Ridge Audubon
located in Asheville, North Carolina, US
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Link to donate to Blue Ridge Audubon for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-studies/feed/ 0 Rocky the Xmas Owl https://owlsintowels.org/rocky-the-xmas-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/rocky-the-xmas-owl/#respond Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2862 Rocky the Northern Saw-whet Owl is snugly wrapped in an orange knitted scarf (or possibly a sleeve or collar) held by Ellen Kalish at Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.

Original post – 18 Nov 2020
by Ravensbeard Wildlife Center
located in Saugerties, New York, US
Website | Instagram | Facebook

‘Twas the month before xmas in upstate New York,
when Ellen Kalish had a curious talk.

“Can you help with a bird?” asked the voice on the phone,
“Yes we can,” Ellen said in a welcoming tone.

The caller explained that her husband found loose
an owl on the branch of a Norwegian Spruce.

But this tree? ‘Twas uncommon, no ordinary stock.
‘Twas picked for a place. And that place? 30 Rock!

Indeed the stowaway owl had travelled 170 miles (270 km) inside the giant 75 foot (23 metre) Spruce tree destined for 30 Rockefeller Plaza to become a centrepiece for that year’s Christmas celebrations.

8x Rockfeller Christmas trees through the years, each with brilliant decorations and lights.
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is an icon of NYC festivities, decorated in spectacular fashion each year stretching back to 1931.
Workers outside Rockfeller Center bring the 2020 tree into position using a crane and wires
An illustration from the book 'The Christmas Owl' depicting a tree worker in hard hat and bright yellow clothing, reaching for the small owl on a branch of the Norway Spruce, with the text "There's an owl in here!"
Photo of said tree worker in hard hat and bright yellow clothing, holding the owl with a pair of gloves
Another illustration, this time the worker placing the owl in a cardboard box on the seat of a vehicle.
2x illustrations. The first is the worker travelling snowy roads in his red vehicle. The second depicts him standing outside his vehicle to meet Ellen (having arrived in a separate vehicle) and to deliver the box containing the owl inside.
The owl’s journey across New York State

Ellen arranged to meet the tree-worker halfway, and upon securing the precious owl cargo, she peeked in the box to see this little face looking up at her.

The Saw-whet Owl stares up at the camera, perfectly central within the cardboard box. Some small branches covered in green needles are loosely nested beneath. The owl's eyes are piercing yellow.

“I was thrilled that he was alert,” Ellen was quoted saying by NBC, “and not just a little heap at the bottom of the box.”

“He/she was a little Saw-whet owl,” she later posted on the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center Facebook Page, adding that they are the smallest owls in the region. And although tiny, it would be unusual for a baby owl to appear in winter. This was an adult – dehydrated and hungry but otherwise unharmed.

Safe at the Center, Ellen gave him fluids and fed him all the mice he would eat. He had not eaten or drank anything for 3 days, so he got his fill in. She reported “His eyes are bright and seems relatively in good condition with all heโ€™s been through.”

It was decided the owl needed a name: Rockefeller, or “Rocky” for short.

Wide eyes. The owl is indoors, held by Ellen wearing a black nitrile/plastic gloves, and pinching the owls legs between thumb and forefinger.
Rocky sits on a blanket inside a pet carrier box. The blanket is white with patterns of pink flowers and butterflies. The top half is well ventilated with holes
Another view of Rocky, indoors, and held by Ellen with a black glove
Close up of Rocky, head in focus against a blurred background. There's some chromatic aberration (green-purple edging) around the subject, giving an artistic flair to the picture. He has little bunched up feet.

In the following days, Rocky’s x-rays came back all clear. And in a small twist, the specialists came back clear on one other matter: Rocky’s gender.

Rocky was a girl!

Meanwhile, news about Rocky the Xmas Owl was going viral. Messages and donations poured in to Ravensbeard from all over. Naturally, merchandise followed: cards, mugs, t-shirts, ornaments, and eventually a book. This was a huge boon for the Center, being a small non-profit and as Ellen put it, “in desperate need of a permanent home.”

Rocky's face on a patterned disc hanging from a xmas tree. He's wrapped in his original orange scarf/sleeve
A Rocky figurine hanging from a xmas tree. The orange sleeve is shaped like a sock or stocking
An illustration of Rocky on a coffee mug with the text "Rockefeller the owl"
Cover of 'The Christmas Owl' with the subtitle "Based on the True Story of a Little Owl Named Rockefeller". The book sits on a wooden platform with greenery behind, and a small birds sits bottom right.

Ellen posted diligently to a world hungry for Rocky updates. A week after being found, Rocky was in an outdoor enclosure acclimating to the chilly November air and getting ready for release.

“We have exciting new to share!” Ellen reported. “[Rockefeller] has been cleared by specialists for take off.” The team had scouted the perfect release spot: a quiet cluster of conifers that offered plenty of cover from the elements and predators.

“Rocky will continue on her migratory journey south today at dusk. The release will happen at sunset so that she can find safe cover by nightfall.”

Ravensbeard soon posted a video of the clearing, showing Ellen lifting Rocky from the carrier and raising the owl on an outstretched arm.

“It was a perfect release. She sat on my hand for a few minutes, scoped out her surroundings and flew beautifully to the nearest pine tree.”

Ellen raises Rocky on an outstretched arm in a wooded outdoor scene.
Rocky now free, perches on the branch of a nearby tree.
An illustrated landscape of snowy trees aglow in the light of a dusky horizon, in tones of yellow peach pink and blue. Ellen stands, scarf flowing, arms out and palms up, next to an empty carrier box, having released Rocky. The owl spreads her wings over the sunset forest. City buildings are silhouetted in the distance beyond

“After about 5 minutes, she decided to leave. Saw-whet owls are extremely nocturnal, meaning they are rarely seen during the day so they donโ€™t have many encounters with humans. Therefore, humans are not seen as a threat. They also donโ€™t flush easily so you can get quite close, if you are lucky enough to spot one.”

For those willing and able, please consider sending a donation to Ravensbeard Wildlife Center. Your support will help them continue their work ensuring birds like Rockefeller are properly cared for before returning to the wild.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/rocky-the-xmas-owl/feed/ 0 Saw-Whet Banding Season https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-banding-season/ https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-banding-season/#respond Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2707 A Saw-whet Owl's head pops out of a glacier-blue pouch. The owl is held by a volunteer wearing an orange long-sleeve top, whose giant hand in the foreground gives a sense of scale of how small these creatures are. It's a night shot, but the subject is well lit against the dark. The owl's eyes are near-perfect concentric circles of black pupils inside green-yellow irises, focussed just above the camera. This one's feathers are white to ashy-brown.

Original post and photos by Sheena Davies – 04 Oct 2025

in association with Rocky Point Bird Observatory
located in Victoria, Canada ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Original text:

A few weeks ago I had the absolute honour of joining my dear friend Taemar in something truly magical. โœจ

In the middle of the night, deep in Metchosin, while most of us are curled up in our beds, an incredible group of dedicated volunteers are wide awake, carefully banding Northern Saw-whet Owls for research and conservation. My dear friend Taemar has been volunteering at Rocky Point Bird Observatory for the past 10 years, and now sheโ€™s training to become a permitted bander. When she invited me out to witness and capture what she does best, I could hardly contain my excitement – Iโ€™ve always felt a special connection with owls, and this was a dream come true.

From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the care and respect with which these tiny, ridiculously cute owls are handled. They seem to simply โ€œhang outโ€ as theyโ€™re gently examinedโ€”weights, eye colour, body condition, beak and feet, even whether theyโ€™re in moult (tested by the most tender little puff of air against their belly ๐Ÿฅน). Their wings and tails are measured, and then a tiny band is fitted around their ankle.

Side-on view of the Saw-whet Owl with beak obscured inside a ball of facial bristles, and eye looking like a tiny fish bowl bulging from its socket. The bander very delicately cradles the owl from behind, lightly pinching legs between thumb and forefinger, and tailfeathers between fore and middle. Their other hand adjusts the metallic band around the owl's ankle. The photo is lit like a renaissance painting; subject ablaze from headlamp, set against a dark and indistinct background.
The owl has an outstretched wing on a tabletop beneath the violet glow of a blacklight. A volunteer holds the owl's feet in one hand, and fans the feathers of the wing with the other. The tube light fluoresces the scene like a rave, highlighting the person's polished fingernails in brilliant white and the owl's feathers in a cosy red and pink. Although open, the owl's eyes are dark, and what little light is reflected in them is unexpectedly brighter inside the pupil than the surrounding iris, giving the owl a ghostly supernatural look.

My absolute favourite part of the process? Watching how researchers determine their age. Under the soft glow of a black light, the owlsโ€™ feathers reveal a hidden secret: a pigment that shines bright pink. The younger the owl, the more vibrant the glow. As they age, the pink slowly fades. Itโ€™s a breathtaking thing to witness – like holding a piece of living stardust.

A Saw-whet Owl is centre of frame with their legs lightly held in the volunteer's right fist. Their left hand holds a panel about the size of a playing card but half as wide next to the owl's face. The panel contains 4 shades of yellow ranging from pale ale to lemon orange Sparkling Duet, each numbered to help register the pigment of the owl's eyes.
A puffer-jacketed volunteer holds an owl, measuring the length of the wing feathers with a plastic contraption. At least I think that's what they're doing. The owl is prone, head facing forward and pupils heavily dilated, looking markedly less chill than previous photos.
Well-lit against a black background, the Saw-whet Owl is held on a volunteer's hand, now with an ostensibly calm expression.

When the examination is complete, the owls are gently placed into a small box and released to fly away on their own, wild and free once again.

An out-of-focus hand opens a wooden box to reveal the Saw-whet Owl inside. The camera is square to the box, framed like a Wes Anderson shot, and captures the owl standing atop a blue sheet of foamy material. A right leg is outstretched, as if mid-strut. The owl's eyes watch the hand on the wooden lid hinged above, with an expression a little dazed and dazzled. No longer poked at by humans, the owl is free to fly away.

I left with my heart full- so proud of Taemar and the work sheโ€™s doing, and in awe of these tiny, magical beings of the night. ๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿฆ‰

And hereโ€™s the best part: Rocky Point Bird Observatory is always looking for passionate volunteers to join in their important work. If this calls to your heart the way it does mine, reach out to @rockypointbird you never know what kind of magic you might discover.

Link to donate to Rocky Point Bird Observatory for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-banding-season/feed/ 0 Hunter of Crickets https://owlsintowels.org/hunter-of-crickets/ https://owlsintowels.org/hunter-of-crickets/#respond Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2460 A Saw-Whet Owl has bright yellow eyes, wide open and fixed on camera. Her plumage is brown except for a flourish of white on the forehead and between the eyes. Only her head is visible; the rest of her is wrapped in a mossy teal fabric. The rehabber is behind wearing a navy blue shirt with the circular Think Wild logo in blue and gold, and clinic name in orange. The logo features a deer and raptor in a rocky desert beneath a sunny sky.

Think Wild posted this juvenile Northern Saw-Whet Owl noting she was well-flighted and had started live prey testing. A week later she was self-feeding and hunting crickets, with mouse tests next.

Original post – 30 Jul 2025
by Think Wild Central Oregon

located in Bend, Oregon, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Link to donate to Think Wild Central Oregon for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/hunter-of-crickets/feed/ 0 Ozark Owl Observations https://owlsintowels.org/ozark-owl-observations/ https://owlsintowels.org/ozark-owl-observations/#respond Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2297 A Saw-whet Owl is contained in a lavender pillowcase or pouch during a banding operation to help efforts monitoring the migration of the species. The owl faces the camera with a pair of curious yellow eyes. A thumb is wrapped over top of the fabric. A paper document with red backing sits on a desk behind.

24th of Owltober!

Ozark Bird Conservancy is currently monitoring the fall migration patterns of Saw-Whet Owls, so they can study the “habits of these cryptic and poorly understood birds!”

OBC operate in the Interior Highlands – an elevated area in central North America that spans parts of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Pictured is one of the owls they banded during the 2024 season.

Original post – 02 Dec 2024
by Ozark Bird Conservancy
Northwest Arkansas
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Link to donate to Ozark Bird Conservancy for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ozark-owl-observations/feed/ 0 Weight of a Kiwi Fruit https://owlsintowels.org/weight-of-a-kiwi-fruit/ https://owlsintowels.org/weight-of-a-kiwi-fruit/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1977 A tiny Saw-whet Owl is cradled upright in a blue towel. Three hands - each wearing the same type of purple nitrile glove - surround the patient and through the power of deductive reasoning we can say at least two people are present. One hand lightly pinches the owl's legs between their fingers, with long pointy talons emerging from the owl's fuzzy toes like fangs.... Fangs of the feet. A stethoscope with a bright-red handle is applied to the owl's chest, looked upon by the owl with cross-eyed astonishment.

9th of Owltober!

Original post – 13 Mar 2024
by Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital – Cornell College of Vet Medicine

located in Ithaca, New York, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

The JLS Wildlife Hospital posted this Northern Saw-whet Owl with the following info:

Found lying in the middle of a busy road on a dark evening a few days ago in Ithaca, NY. Luckily he was noticed by a Cornell faculty member (and bird of prey expert!) that happened to be driving that way. He was gently gathered up in a soft blanket and whisked right to our front door, where our emergency team arrived to provide him with immediate care.

Weighing in at only 75 grams (similar in weight to a kiwi fruit!), this owl, although a strong predator in the wild, is a delicate patient that requires extra special care.

Thankfully, after supportive treatments and thorough testing, he is determined to be releasable, and is well on his way to a complete recovery!

Link to donate to Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰๐Ÿฅ

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/weight-of-a-kiwi-fruit/feed/ 1 Little Tiny Babushka https://owlsintowels.org/little-tiny-babushka/ https://owlsintowels.org/little-tiny-babushka/#respond Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1937 Olaf the Northern Saw-Whet Owl is wrapped in baby blue cloth that's styled like a head scarf. According to the uploader Paige Bucalo this makes him look like a babushka. His golden-yellow eyes are piercing, pupils wide, and feathers fluffy. What a cutie.

6th of Owltober!

Original post by Paige Bucalo @paigebucalo
Additional post by World Bird Sanctuary

located in Valley Park, Missouri, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Original caption:

Although seldom seen, the Northern saw-whet owl is one of the most common owls in the forests across North America. They are highly nocturnal.

Some more info about this Saw-whet:

Olaf was received from a raptor rehabilitation center in Wisconsin. As with most raptors, it is difficult to tell whether Olaf is male or female since there is no visible difference in their feather patterns. Because Olaf is missing some feathers on his left shoulder that would affect his ability to fly well enough to catch prey in the wild he will be a permanent resident at the World Bird Sanctuary. He shares an enclosure with another Saw-whet Owl named Lief. When you visit you will be able to easily identify Olaf by his dark feather coloration.

Saw-whet Owls are not customarily seen by most people here in Missouriโ€“primarily because they are a nocturnal species, but secondly because they are spring and fall migrants. Olaf will spend his days greeting and watching visitors to the World Bird Sanctuary Nature Center where he and his companion Lief will educate our guests about his species.

Link to donate to World Bird Sanctuary for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/little-tiny-babushka/feed/ 0 Saw-Whet Snug for Science https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-snug-for-science/ https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-snug-for-science/#respond Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2098
Video Transcription:
A Saw-whet Owl is contained inside a draw-string pouch, lime-green with yellow polka dots (the bag, not the owl). Only the owl’s head is visible; coffee and cream with yellow eyes.

Original post – 14 Oct 2024

by Wild Bird Research Group
located in Hopewell, New Jersey

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Weโ€™re officially in owl season! The first two nights, we saw an impressive nine Northern saw-whet owls migrating through our research sites.

The owls start their research journey in special cloth bags to secure them before we start the data collection comfortably. You can see nothing more magical or frankly cute than a Northern saw-whet owl coming out of a bag.

All birds are handled with proper permits and training. Never handle wild birds without them.

Link to donate to Wild Bird Research Group for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-snug-for-science/feed/ 0 Cute Murder Machine https://owlsintowels.org/cute-murder-machine/ https://owlsintowels.org/cute-murder-machine/#respond Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2086 A small Northern Saw-whet Owl is wrapped in a white cloth, with only her face visible. The arrangement of fabric could be mistaken for a white rose, albeit one with large round eyes and yellow irises. Her head feathers are a mix of light tan and white with dark streaks. The rictal bristles around her beak are very thin, and look kind of like those wire head massagers. The person holding the owl is wearing a dark jacket in the background but the focus is entirely on the owl, which looks alert and curious.

Original post – 02 Jan 2025

by Bird Treatment and Learning Center

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Anchorage, Alaska, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Not much info was included with this picture of a Northern Saw-whet Owl but we know she was included in Bird TLC’s top 10 Moments of 2024.

Link to donate to Bird TLC for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/cute-murder-machine/feed/ 0 Cosy Northern Saw-Whet https://owlsintowels.org/cosy-northern-saw-whet/ https://owlsintowels.org/cosy-northern-saw-whet/#respond Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2051 Close-up of a Saw-whet Owl wrapped inside a fluffy cream towel. A half circle of head takes up the top-half of frame. Said head contains a pair of yellow eyes with wide pupils, and the top of a beak; everything below this is obscured by the towel. The feathers around the brow of the owl's eyes and bridge of the beak forms a Y-shape of white. The rest of the owl is brown with small white speckles and streaks.

Original post – 27 Jan 2023
by Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre

located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

A good day to wrap yourself in a blanket and stay cozy!

Some more info (courtesy of OVWBCC) is that the Saw-whet Owl gets its name from its call, which resembles the sound made when someone sharpens (aka “whets”) a large mill saw. ๐Ÿชš๐Ÿชš๐Ÿชš

They also have a series of barks, whines, and squeaks they use to communicate with each other.

Link to donate to Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/cosy-northern-saw-whet/feed/ 0 Olaf the Saw-whet Owl https://owlsintowels.org/olaf-the-saw-whet-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/olaf-the-saw-whet-owl/#respond Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1954 Olaf the owl's facial disc is exactly that: a disc of feathers in a near perfect circle, bursting from a fluffy white towel with a sparse blue stripe pattern. No other background details are visibleโ€”this is pure owl and towel. He has golden eyes and looks square at the camera, one eye ever so slightly more open the other. He makes a handsome model.

Original post – 27 Jan 2016
by World Bird Sanctuary

located in Valley Park, Missouri, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Olaf the Northern saw-whet owl is wrapped up in a burrito for weighing.

Link to donate to World Bird Sanctuary for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link

P.S. Olaf has featured before, and he’ll feature again.

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/olaf-the-saw-whet-owl/feed/ 0 Not Suitable for Human Consumption https://owlsintowels.org/not-suitable-for-human-consumption/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1531 A Saw-whet Owl with golden eyes stares into the camera while encased in a tight cornflower blue towel. It is possibly one of the neatest wraps pictured to date, with the camera looking squarely "down the barrel" of the towel, so to speak. The cross section of owl is almost all forehead; coffee brown with streaks of cream. The feathers are slightly ruffled and spiral around a discernible whorl above one eye. The pupils are wide and a deep glossy black, each reflecting a pair of ceiling lights. We tend to project human emotions onto wild animals, even when they are unsuited to the situation. That said, it feels impossible to describe this owl as anything but angry. The brow seems more furrowed than your typical owl; the 30 degree rotation of the wrap (and the owl within) only adds to its look of indignity at being so unreasonably detained.

Original post by @paigebucalo 08 Dec 2016
at World Bird Sanctuary

located in Valley Park, Missouri, US ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

One of our permanent resident saw-whet owls safely restrained in a “burrito” for an examination

Link to donate to World Bird Sanctuary for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link

]]> Ninety Two Grams of Pure Aggression https://owlsintowels.org/ninety-two-grams-of-pure-aggression/ Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:00:15 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=984

Original post – 15 Nov 2012 – Source

by The Raptor Center located in St Paul, Minnesota

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Since the first of October this year, the University of Minnesota Raptor Centerโ€™s clinic has admitted 15 Northern saw-whet owls. This is not unusual because the little owls typically make their winter movements during this time. What is unusual, however, is that five of them were already banded! We do not yet know their individual stories, but we expect to receive information from the Bird Banding Lab in the near future.

Why were these owls admitted? The majority of them suffered traumatic injuries from colliding with objects such as windows. Head and internal trauma were common injuries, but the bird pictured here suffered from a fractured pelvis. This adult female saw-whet was a restless patient, but after about two weeks of cage rest and one week of exercise, her energies were once again put into surviving life in the wild.

Northern Saw-whet owls are the smallest owls in Minnesota. They weigh in at only 65-100 grams (females are larger than males), live in woodland areas in northern and central Minnesota (some now nest in the Twin Cities area) and are cavity nesters. Their diet consists primarily of mice, the availability of which often determines the extent of their winter movements.

Link to donate to The Raptor Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern saw-whet owlWiki link
]]> Saw-whet Owl to Rest and Recuperate https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-owl-to-rest-and-recuperate/ https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-owl-to-rest-and-recuperate/#respond Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:39:17 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=758

Original post – 12 Mar 2021 – Source
by Acadia Wildlife Center
located in Bar Harbor, Maine

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Hit by a car and found by a caring member of the public, this tiny Saw Whet Owl has no fractures or eye injuries but a probable concussion. This is compounded by some starvation which may be due to its recent arrival from migration. We have high hopes that a few days of R&R may be all she needs.

You can help fund Acadia Wildlife Center at the following DONATION LINK

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern saw-whet owlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/saw-whet-owl-to-rest-and-recuperate/feed/ 0 Dinnertime for Saw-whet Owl https://owlsintowels.org/dinnertime-for-saw-whet-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/dinnertime-for-saw-whet-owl/#respond Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:16:52 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=740
See the instagram/facebook links below to see the original video – it’s super cute

Original post – 25 Nov 2014 – Source
by Toronto Wildlife Center at Toronto, Ontario

Website | Instagram | Facebook

This saw-whet owl was found in a window well after hitting the window of someone’s home. Now being treated for eye injuries at Toronto Wildlife Centre, he’s having trouble eating on his own. He is being hand-fed chunks of raw meat until he feels better.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Toronto Wildlife Center at the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฆ‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern saw-whet owlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/dinnertime-for-saw-whet-owl/feed/ 0