| About sixteen inches long.
Dark-brown upper parts, head and nape spotted with white. White face, dark brown
throat. Tail, back and some wing feathers have white bars. Under parts sharp contrasting
white and dark brown bars. Owl like head on a hawk like body; folded wings fall short of
its long tail. Species of the far north and circumpolar.
Inhabits coniferous and mixed forests from northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, Alaska,
Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Siberia to the Arctic. Occasionally a short distance
migrant in winter to northern U.S. and Germany and France in Europe.
Builds nests of twigs and feathers in evergreen trees and tree
hollows, or of a few rotten wood chips in natural and abandoned tree cavities, sometimes
in old hawk nests. Bird boxes too.
Lays three to nine white glossy eggs, which hatch after less than
one month of incubation and young leave the nest in about another month.
Hawk like habits, a day hunter, often perching in trees watching for
prey. Eats grouse, rodents, and insects. Known to hover around hunters waiting for a
chance to steal wounded game. Attracted to camp fires. Utters a shrill cry.
The Hawk Owl Birdhouse (same as for the Red-headed Woodpecker and Golden-fronted Woodpecker) has a 6" by
6" floor, 14" inside ceiling, 2" diameter entrance hole located 11"
above the floor and ventilation openings. Hinged roof is secured with shutter hooks.
Hinged roof is secured with shutter hooks for easy access.
Mount about ten feet high on a tree on a woodland edge or clearing. Leave a bed of
chips in the house.
Allan Brooks
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