Boreal Owl

The Boreal Owl is a small noctournal owl measuring only 10 inches with a wingspan of about 24 inches. It has a large rounded head, yellow eyes, and pale facial disks with dark borders. The upper part of this small owl is dark brown with large white spots. The underparts are pale with large, irregular dark streaks.

The boreal owl gets its name from its northern habitat, the boreal forests of Alaska. In North America, the boreal owl can be found in most of Alaska, throughout Canada, and in the northern states as far south as Colorado. It can also be found throughout Eurasia, from western Europe to Siberia.

The boreal owl makes its home in closed-canopy forests that are at least partially composed of deciduous trees, nesting in old woodpecker cavities in trees. The female lays 3-6 eggs which hatch in about 28 days. The young owls leave the nest in 28-33 days but are still cared for by the parents for about 5 or 6 weeks.

The diet of the boreal owl consists mainly of voles, mice, shrews, and small birds although it will sometimes eat insects.



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