Northern Saw-whet Owl in St. Louis County
2011-01-07

Occasional in St. Louis County in the Winter season

This owl was spotted today in Duluth at a private residence on E Skyline Pkwy near Chester Bowl. It was asleep by the feeders next to the house and attracted to the voles present below the feeders. In this view, the only visible field marks to readily distinguish it from the similar Boreal Owl are the streaked (rather than spotted) forehead and the absence of black along the edge of the facial disk. Northern Saw-whets are only casual winter visitants in northern Minnesota.

Kim R. Eckert; "digibin" photo with 10x32 Leica Ultravid binoculars.