Whereas ulula seems like a silly dance individuals occurring Caribbean cruises are pressured to take part in, it is usually a part of the Latin identify of the Northern Hawk-Owl, Surnia ulula. Ulula means owl in Latin.
In keeping with the American Fowl Conservancy, it is usually referred to as the Canadian Owl, a lot because the Gulf of Mexico is named the Gulf of America amongst MAGA lovers. Simply don’t use that identify for the roughly 50% of the owl inhabitants not dwelling in North America.
In comparison with the opposite owls I noticed on this Inside Mongolia journey, this owl is a quick and direct flyer, flying extra like a hawk than an owl (thus the identify, I suppose).
Perhaps that makes eBird name it a “Distinctive medium-sized owl of the boreal forest”.
eBird additionally provides that its “Pale eyes give it an indignant look”.
This owl is surprisingly unafraid of individuals (together with the birder subspecies) – it is usually comparatively simple to identify because it likes to perch on high of bushes relatively than disguise someplace within the center.
Northern Hawk-Owls find their prey visually from elevated perches and like open house for scanning and attacking – one supply due to this fact claims that clear-cutting previous forests really helps the owl.
Additionally it is an owl that’s primarily lively within the daytime, perhaps with the target of smashing stereotypes of owls as being evening creatures.
When feeding nestlings, the height prey supply instances due to this fact have been after dawn and earlier than sundown, with a low round midnight (supply).
Northern Hawk-Owls retailer extra prey objects for later consumption (supply) – handy in winter, when all their habitat turns into an enormous fridge anyway.
Additionally they scavenge – there may be one report of an owl returning to the carcass of a Canada lynx a number of instances.
They use nest packing containers – if you wish to see a cute picture of 4 chicks wanting a bit peeved, go to this hyperlink.
Like another owl species dwelling far north, bigger numbers of Northern Hawk Owls often transfer south, pushed each by meals shortage within the north and excessive meals availability additional south (supply).
Some researchers argue that the cyclicality of those irruptions signifies that the prey – small rodents – will need to have a multi-year inhabitants cycle.
Whereas the Northern Hawk-Owl is categorized as Least Concern, it faces some dangers from capturing and trapping. Specifically, a 1994 report on Ontario birds mentions that the owl is typically known as the “follow owl” by northern residents resulting from its use of open perches at daytime. Hopefully, that time period is dying together with the individuals who did the capturing.
