Hawk Owl
Last Review/Updated: May 31, 2002
Surnia uvula
Although a true owl, this bird closely resembles a hawk because of its short, relatively pointed wings, long wedge-shaped tail, and its hawklike flight and perching posture. A medium-sized owl (35 cm, 14 in. long), the hawk owl is distinguished by a lack of ear tufts, dark brown upper parts with white spotted wings and a speckled and streaked crown and hindneck. The white underside is finely barred with black, and two darker patches are located on either side of the breast.
The hawk owl frequents brushy openings and muskegs of all but the alpine and prairie zones. During fall and winter it moves southward, often as far as the northern states.
Nests are found in the cavities of trees and dead stumps. Three to 7 eggs are laid.
Fully active during the day, it hunts very much like a hawk. Perching on dead trees and skimming low and rapidly over the ground, it swoops down on mice and voles, its predominant prey species.
