 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]
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Atlas Results
Northern Hawk Owls were reported from 21 squares scattered sparsely from the boreal fringe to the taiga shield in the far north. Most records are of birds in suitable habitat during the breeding season in the boreal forest. Probable and confirmed breeding records were made in the Montreal Lake area with a nest with young and another pair on territory, and 30 km north of Patuanak breeding was confirmed with an observation of recently fledged young accompanied by an adult. In the taiga shield a Northern Hawk Owl was observed 50 km northeast of Fon-du-Lac, potentially representing the farthest north observation made in Saskatchewan.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
Because of its remote and often inaccessible breeding habitat, the Northern Hawk Owl's differences from other owl species are sometimes overlooked. It is a visible daytime owl that tends to perch at the highest point available, easily visible from the highway. As a result of infrequent contact with humans on its breeding grounds, it has a bold nature and little fear of humans (Duncan and Duncan 2014). Like the Great Gray and Boreal Owls, it is a permanent resident in the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia.
Northern Hawk Owls prefer burns and open bogs for nesting and foraging (Smith 1996).
The Northern Hawk Owl is "an uncommon permanent resident of the Boreal Forest of Saskatchewan? (Smith 1996). In the northern boreal forest, the first and farthest north nest was found by J. Mercredi at Fond-du-Lac, Lake Athabasca, with 5 eggs near the end of May 1885 (Nero 1963a). It was also seen at Cree River 18 Jan 1958 and at Uranium City in April, May, and July 1960. In years with incursions south of its normal breeding range, every farm with a cattle feedlot is worth checking. In such years, occasional pairs may breed in the forest fringe and aspen parkland.
Original text by Martin J. Stoffel. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Northern Hawk Owl in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Northern Hawk 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=NHOW&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]
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