 Breeding evidence |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
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Atlas Results
Detections of Boreal Owls were scattered sparsely across the boreal forest in 19 squares. Breeding was confirmed for this elusive owl at Jan Lake and Wollaston Lake with observations of recently fledged young in 2019 on 26 May and 20 July , respectively. Autonomous recording units deployed over winter and set to record at intervals from March onward greatly facilitated Boreal Owl detections, adding numerous detections to 10 squares otherwise lacking in-person observations during their vocalization period.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
Due to the Boreal Owl's small size and usually remote boreal haunts, it is rarely seen and poorly studied. Unlike the Northern Saw-whet Owl, the Boreal Owl usually remains all winter. Permanent resident across the boreal from Alaska to Labrador and in the west south to New Mexico.
Boreal Owls are found in coniferous and mixedwood forest characterized by white spruce, black spruce, and large trembling aspen. Conifers are the usual roosting sites. Mature forests are important for foraging, especially during winter when snow conditions, especially crusted snow, impede access to prey. During early spring they may hunt clearings and open fields as the snowpack recedes (Hayward and Hayward 1993). During rare winter irruptions, this species may be found in more southern locations, such as farm shelterbelts and urban yards.
An obligate cavity nester throughout the boreal forest of Saskatchewan, the Boreal Owl is more numerous than many suspect. It is the third most common owl on the Saskatchewan Nocturnal Owl Survey. Although generally a year-round resident, it tends to be nomadic and disperses in years when prey is scarce (Hayward and Hayward 1993). Because it requires mature stands of coniferous and mixedwood forests, forestry operations that reduce the number of available nesting cavities may impact its populations (Priestley 2008).
Original text by Harold E. Fisher and Harold E. Fisher. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Boreal Owl in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Boreal Owl in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=BOOW&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]
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