Who's Who. Northern Saw-whet Owl

A tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) with fierce vision was observed near Bozeman, Montana.

It's distinctive round-head, black bill, yellow eyes and reddish/brown grading makes this one cute owl!

The Saw-whet Owl's name comes from the "skieeww" call that is made when it becomes alarmed. This sound has a resemblance to the whetting of a saw. A monotonous, "Toot, toot, toot," is sometimes given during the night. The Northern Saw-whet Owl's large eyes (relative to its body size) facilitate excellent low-light vision. Northern saw-whet owls hunt at night. They hunt from a low perch, where they watch and listen for prey. Saw-whet owls have excellent night vision, and excellent hearing. When they see or hear prey, the owl flies quickly to the prey, catching it with the large talons on their feet. Saw-whet owls tear their food apart with their beaks, and eat it in pieces. If they catch a large animal, they may store the leftovers to eat later.

(source: biokids.umich.edu)