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Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus), Finley and Adams Canyon, Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz County

This adult Northern Saw-whet Owl was discovered on a steep east-facing slope at about 5500 feet elevation in upper Finley and Adams Canyon in the Patagonia Mountains just off of the Duquesne Road on 15 December 2011 during the Patagonia Christmas Bird Count by Dave Stejskal, Josh Stewart, and John Kugler. It was first detected by voice and was then found perched in a Silverleaf Oak about 8 feet off the ground. Northern Saw-whet Owl is rarely detected in the winter away from known breeding areas in the state. It was photographed at the time by Dave Stejskal.

There is a scattering of winter records of this migrant species from a variety of locales throughout Arizona, and finding one is always a surprise. This bird is likely the first record for the Patagonia Mountains, where it's not known to breed. Northern Saw-whet Owl has been found nesting as close as the Santa Rita Mountains in northern Santa Cruz County, but this individual is most likely from much farther north in western North America.

The small size, yellow eyes, streaked crown and facial disks, and black bill all make the identification of this species straightforward.  Boreal Owl, the only confusion species in North American, has not been recorded in Arizona. 

15 December 2011, photo by Dave Stejskal

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer

Submitted on 16 December 2011

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