Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Boreal Owl

Aegolius funereus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Boreal Owl

G5Secure Found in 19 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). Photo by Mathew* Zappa, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Mathew* Zappa, CC BY 4.0
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). Photo by er-birds, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
er-birds, CC BY 4.0
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). Photo by Benoit Renaud, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Benoit Renaud, CC BY 4.0
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). Photo by Константин Селивёрстов, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Константин Селивёрстов, CC BY 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105053
Element CodeABNSB15010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderStrigiformes
FamilyStrigidae
GenusAegolius
Other Common Names
Nyctale de Tengmalm (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Known as Tengmalm's Owl in European literature (AOU 1998).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-06
Change Date1996-11-27
Edition Date1996-01-01
Edition AuthorsReichel, J.D.
Range Extent20,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 8000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Wide range, apparently large numbers and occurrences seem to make this species secure.
Range Extent Comments
Breeds in North America from treeline in central Alaska east to Newfoundland; south central Oregon in the Cascade and Blue Mountains, and in the Rocky Mountains south through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado to northern New Mexico; then east through central Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, northern Minnesota, southern Quebec and Ontario. Breeds in Eurasia from treeline in northern Scandanavia, Russia, and Siberia, south in the mountians to southern Europe, the western Himalayas, and western China (AOU 1983, Hayward and Hayward 1993). Winters mainly in hte breeding range, however it may move south in the eastern U.S. and Europe during eruption years (A.O.U. 1983, Hayward and Hayward 1993).
Threat Impact Comments
Major threat may be indirect effects of forest harvesting practices. These may reduce primary prey populaitons, remove forest structure used for foraging, and eliminates nesting cavities (Hayward and Hayward 1993).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Dense coniferous forest, mixed forest, thickets of alder, aspen, or stunted spruce, most commonly in proximity to open grassy situations (AOU 1983); muskeg bogs. In the Rockies, occurs generally in mature, multilayered spruce-fir forest. Roosts in dense cover by day, in cool microsites in summer; frequently changes roosting site.

Nests in tree hole, natural cavity or old woodpecker hole; sometimes in artificial nest boxes (Harrison 1978). Nest site may be used in consecutive years. Three nest holes in Colorado were 78-100 mm in diameter (see Johnsgard 1988). A nest in Montana was in a dead broken-topped subalpine fir; the cavity opening measured 73 mm X 64 mm (Holt and Ermatinger 1989).

Ecology

In Idaho, annual home range averaged 1528 ha (522-4119 ha); home ranges overlapped extensively; range was larger in winter than in summer; center of winter and summer ranges were separated by average of 2333 m (Hayward et al. 1987). Defends nest site only.

Reproduction

Female may occupy the nest cavity 1-3 weeks prior to egg laying (Hayward 1989). In Colorado, nests were initiated from mid-April to early June; mid-April to late May in Idaho (Hayward 1989). Clutch size usually is 4-6. Incubation reported as 25-36 days, by female. Young fledge at about 4-5 weeks, independent at 5-6 weeks, sexually mature by 1 year. Mating system variable. See Johnsgard (1988).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - Mixed
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoS2B,S2NYes
WyomingS2Yes
WisconsinSNAYes
IdahoS1Yes
MaineSNAYes
MichiganSNRNYes
MontanaS3BYes
New YorkSNRNYes
WashingtonS3Yes
AlaskaS4Yes
OregonS3Yes
ColoradoS2Yes
MinnesotaS3B,SNRNYes
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS4Yes
Yukon TerritoryS4Yes
Nova ScotiaS2B,SUMYes
AlbertaS4Yes
SaskatchewanS3Yes
British ColumbiaS4Yes
LabradorS4Yes
ManitobaS3Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS3Yes
OntarioS4Yes
New BrunswickS1B,SUMYes
Roadless Areas (19)
Alaska (1)
AreaForestAcres
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Colorado (1)
AreaForestAcres
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Montana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. JeffersonBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest4,482
Utah (2)
AreaForestAcres
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Washington (4)
AreaForestAcres
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Mill Creek Watershed (WA)Umatilla National Forest16,747
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
Salmo - Priest BColville National Forest11,869
Wyoming (10)
AreaForestAcres
Bridger PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest6,697
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Monument RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest17,720
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
Singer PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest10,498
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
References (44)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. Arsenault, D. P., P. B. Stacey, and G. A. Hoelzer. 2005. Mark-recapture and DNA fingerprinting data reveal high breeding-site fidelity, low natal philopatry, and low levels of population genetic differentiation in flammulated owls (<i>Otus flammeolus</i>). Auk 122:329-337.
  4. Bent, A. C. 1938. Life histories of North American birds of prey. Part 2. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 170. 482 pp., 92 pls.
  5. Bull, E.L. 1987. Capture techniques for owls. Pages 291-293 in R.W. Nero, R.J. Clark, R.J. Knapton, and R.H. Hamre, editors. Biology and conservation of northern forest owls. USDA Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-142.
  6. Cannings, R. J. 1987. The breeding biology of Northern Saw-whet Owls in southern British Columbia. Pages 193-198 IN Nero, R.W., R. J. Clark, R. J. Knapton, and H. Hamre, editors. Biology and conservation of northern forest owls. USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-142, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.
  7. Cannings, R. J. 1993. Northern Saw-whet Owl (<i>Aegolius acadicus</i>). No. 42 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia; The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. 20pp.
  8. Catling, P. M. 1972. A study of the Boreal owl in southern Ontario with particular reference to the irruption of 1968- 69. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 86:223-232.
  9. Clark, R. J., D. G. Smith, and L. H. Kelso. 1978. Working bibliography of owls of the world. National Wildlife Federation, Sci. & Tech. Ser. No. 1. 336 pp.
  10. Duncan, J., and P. Duncan. 1994/95. Nocturnal owl surveys. Bird Trends (Canadian Wildlife Service) (4):24-25.
  11. Eckert, Allan W. 1978. The Owls of North America. Weather-vane Books, New York. 278 pp.
  12. Fisher, A.K. 1893. The hawks and owls of the United States in their relation to agriculture. Washington U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Bull. no. 6. 210 pp.
  13. Gamel, C. M. 1997. Habitat selection, population density, and home range of the elf owl, <i>Micrathene whitneyi</i>, at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. M.S. thesis, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, Texas.
  14. Gehlbach, F. R., and N. Y. Gehlbach. 2000. Whiskered Screech-Owl (<i>Otus trichopsis</i>). No. 507 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia. 24pp.
  15. Goggans, R. 1986. Habitat use by flammulated owls in northeastern Oregon. Master's thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.
  16. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  17. Hayward, G. D., and J. Verner, editors. 1994. Flammulated, boreal, and great gray owls in the United States: a technical conservation assessment. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report RM-253. Fort Collins, Colorado.
  18. Hayward, G. D., and P. H. Hayward. 1993. Boreal Owl (AEGOLIUS FUNEREUS). In The Birds of North America, No. 63. A. Poole and F. Gill, (eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.
  19. Hayward, G. D., et al. 1987b. Movements and home range use by boreal owls in central Idaho. Pages 175-184 in Nero, R. W., et al., eds. Biology and conservation of northern forest owls. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-142.
  20. Hayward, G. D., P. H. Hayward, and E. O. Garton. 1987a. Revised breeding distribution of the boreal owl in the northern Rocky Mountains. Condor 89:431-432.
  21. Hayward, G. D., R. K. Steinhosrt and P. H. Hayward. 1992. Monitoring boreal owl populations with nest boxes: Sample size and cost. J. Wildl. Manage. 56:777-785.
  22. Holt, D. W., and D. Ermatinger. 1989. First confirmed nest site of boreal owls in Montana. Northwest. Nat. 70:27-31.
  23. Holt, D. W., and J. L. Petersen. 2000. Northern Pygmy-Owl (<i>Glaucidium gnoma</i>). No. 494 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 24pp.
  24. Johnsgard, P. 1988. North American owls: biology and natural history. Smithsonian Inst. Press. 336 pp.
  25. Kirk, D. A., D. Hussell, and E. Dunn. 1995. Raptor population status and trends in Canada. Bird Trends (Canadian Wildlife Service) 4:2-9.
  26. Kullberg, C. 1995. Strategy of the Pygmy Owl while hunting avian and mammalian prey. Ornis Fenn. 72:72-78.
  27. Linkhart, B. D. 1984. Range, activity, and habitat use by nesting flammulated owls in a Colorado ponderosa pine forest. Masters thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
  28. Nicholls, T. H., and M. R. Fuller. 1987. Owl telemetry techniques. Pages 294-301 IN R.W. Nero, R.J. Clark, R.J. Knapton, and R.H. Hamre, editors. Biology and conservation of northern forest owls. USDA Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-142.
  29. O'Connell, M. W. 1987. Occurrence of the boreal owl in northeastern Washington. Pages 185-188 in Nero, R. W., et al., eds. Biology and conservation of northern forest owls. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-142.
  30. Palmer, D. A. 1987. Annual, seasonal, and nightly variation in calling activity of boreal and northern saw-whet owls. Pp. 162-168 in Nero, R.W., et al., eds. Biol. & Cons. of n. forest owls. U.S. For. Serv., Gen. Tech Rep. RM-142.
  31. Palmer, D. A., and R. A. Ryder. 1984. The first documented breeding of the boreal owl in Colorado. Condor 86:215-217.
  32. Pendleton, B. A. G., B. A. Millsap, K. W. Cline, and D. M. Bird. 1987. Raptor management techniques manual. National Wildlife Federation, Sci. and Tech. Ser. No. 10. 420 pp.
  33. Proudfoot, G. A., and R. R. Johnson. 2000. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (<i>Glaucidium brasilianum</i>). No. 498 IN A. Poole and F. Gill (eds.), The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc. Philadelphia, PA. 20pp.
  34. Rashid, S. 1999. Northern Pygmy Owls in Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado Field Ornithol. 33:94-101.
  35. Rodrick, E. and R. Milner (eds). 1991. Management recommendations for Washington's priority habitats and species. Wash. Dept. Wildl., Olympia. [Unpubl. Rep.]
  36. Ryder, R. A., et al. 1987. Distribution and status of the boreal owl in Colorado. Pages 169-174 in Nero, R. W., et al., eds. Biology and conservation of northern forest owls. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-142.
  37. Smith, D.G. 1987b. Owl census techniques. Pages 304-307 in R.W. Nero, R.J. Clark, R.J. Knapton, and R.H. Hamre, editors. Biology and conservation of northern forest owls. USDA Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-142.
  38. Stahlecker, D. W., and J. J. Rawinski. 1990. First records for the boreal owl in New Mexico. Condor 92:517-519.
  39. Stahlecker, D. W., and R. B. Duncan. 1996. The boreal owl at the southern terminus of the Rocky Mountains: undocumented longtime resident or recent arrival? Condor 98:153-161.
  40. Swengel, S. R. 1990. How to find Saw-whet Owls. Bird Watcher's Digest 12:68-75.
  41. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  42. Voous, K. H., and A. Cameron. 1989. Owls of the Northern Hemisphere. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 320 pp.
  43. Whelton, B. D. 1989. Distribution of the boreal owl in eastern Washington and Oregon. Condor 91:712-716.
  44. Wiens, T. P. 1989. Spring migrant boreal owls at Whitefish Point, Michigan. Jack-Pine Warbler 67:88-93.