Birding Boy Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 (edited) Y’all this is a Saw-whet right? Was just doing some Milky Way photography and he started calling. Would be a lifer, so confirmation would be great. Thanks in advance! https://ebird.org/checklist/S98111738 Edited November 27, 2021 by Birding Boy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 I believe so. The only other owl that makes similar calls (at least to what I’m familiar with) would be Boreal, but I don’t think those make it to Michigan 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birding Boy Posted November 27, 2021 Author Share Posted November 27, 2021 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Aaron said: I believe so. The only other owl that makes similar calls (at least to what I’m familiar with) would be Boreal, but I don’t think those make it to Michigan Thanks man! Yeah, there’s only 3ish lower peninsula Boreal Owl records (on eBird), so NSWO is probably a bit more likely haha. Edited November 27, 2021 by Birding Boy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 The “barking” calls are fairly ambiguous, I think a lot of small owls do that sort of thing. That ascending screech is diagnostic for Saw-Whet though. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Just now, AlexHenry said: That ascending screech is diagnostic for Saw-Whet though. Screech-owls and Barred Owls also produce an ascending call, right? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 (edited) 2 minutes ago, The Bird Nuts said: Screech-owls and Barred Owls also produce an ascending call, right? Screech Owls make barking and whinnying sounds, I do not believe they produce an ascending screech call. This is definitely a small owl, we can rule out Barred All in all it’s definitely a Saw-Whet, I’m certain of that much at least. Edited November 27, 2021 by AlexHenry 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 1 minute ago, AlexHenry said: Screech Owls make barking and whinnying sounds, I do not believe they produce an ascending screech call. This is definitely a small owl, we can rule out Barred Thanks. I guess this would be an ascending whinny?: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/178045061 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 (edited) 7 minutes ago, The Bird Nuts said: Thanks. I guess this would be an ascending whinny?: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/178045061 I would call that an ascending screech. I’ve never heard a screech owl do that before I still feel pretty confident the bird in question in this post is a Saw-Whet, compare the calls on All About Birds Edited November 27, 2021 by AlexHenry 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Specifically listen to the first two calls (not song, calls) for Northern Saw-Whet Owl on All About Birds, sounds exactly like @Birding Boy ‘s two call types he recorded. Obviously I have more to learn about Screech-Owl vocalizations, thanks for informing me @The Bird Nuts … I still feel pretty confident this is a Saw-Whet not a Screech-Owl though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 @AlexHenry I think you're right that the voice is more like a Saw-Whet's. I'm only asking because I heard something similar in my yard last year and I couldn't figure out what it was. We did end up finding a NSWO a few months later... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 In general I think Saw-Whets are more common/widespread than people realize 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birding Boy Posted November 27, 2021 Author Share Posted November 27, 2021 Thanks for the input everyone! I was pretty sure it was a Saw-whet with both vocalization types, but I knew other species could sound similar. “Overdue” lifer, but yeah I’m sure they’re a lot more common than would seem. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadynn_H Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Sounds great for NSWO! Congrats on the lifer! It's fun when you aren't expecting one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 1 hour ago, AlexHenry said: In general I think Saw-Whets are more common/widespread than people realize Just chiming in to share a story. We met a veteran birder at a hotspot who showed us a saw-whet, and then told the story of a friend of his who (30-40 years ago?) was doing a study of saw-whet nesting sites in the Okanagan Valley, and called him in for help because after several months he had yet to identify a saw-whet nesting site. The lengths they had to go to to find some were entertaining. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor L. Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, Kadynn_H said: Sounds great for NSWO! Congrats on the lifer! It's fun when you aren't expecting one! Saw-whets are fun always!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadynn_H Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 28 minutes ago, Trevor L. said: Saw-whets are fun always!!! Oh, I meant unexpected lifers are fun, but yes Saw-whets are also always fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Somehow the ranges of both screech owls end before they get anywhere close to where I am, but I guess I’m too far North.??♂️ My first Saw-whet was also unexpected. First major snowstorm of the year but I decided to bird around outside anyways and found him in a little tree right next to the path. Another time I saw one I called it a “Saw-wheat owl” to a group of birders who asked if I saw anything interesting and they all laughed at me… I still haven’t recovered from that. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 17 hours ago, AlexHenry said: In general I think Saw-Whets are more common/widespread than people realize They absolutely are. The numbers we get while banding can be incredible during migration. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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