Bird Guide

Boreal Owl

Aegolius funereus

Least ConcernVertebratesForestCavity nestMedium · 137 g

About the Boreal Owl

The boreal owl or Tengmalm's owl is a small owl in the "true owl" family Strigidae. It is known as the boreal owl or, more rarely, Richardson's owl after Sir John Richardson, in North America, and as Tengmalm's owl in Europe and Asia, after the Swedish naturalist Peter Gustaf Tengmalm.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The boreal owl is small with a large head and long wings. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though females are larger. Males typically measure 21–25 cm (8–10 in) in length, with a wingspan of 55–58 cm (22–23 in), while females are larger, 25–28 cm (10–11 in), with a wingspan of 59–62 cm (23–24 in). Females, weighing 132–215 g (4.7–7.6 oz) are heavier than males, which weigh 93–139 g (3.3–4.9 oz).

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Boreal Owl sounds like

Recording: Lubomir Wójcicki · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Lubomir Wójcicki · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Tomi Hakala · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where the Boreal Owl lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, United Kingdom, Mongolia, Netherlands, Georgia, India, Luxembourg.

When to see the Boreal Owl

Peak activity in March · a passage migrant species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Boreal Owl vs Northern Saw-whet Owl

Learn the Boreal Owl in BeakBrain

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