Photo: Mdf / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereus
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) — Owls of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 137 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Aegolius
- Species funereus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 137 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Boreal Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Boreal Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL n.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 137 g, with a wing length of about 16.9 cm and a tail of around 10.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 23.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Boreal Owl?
The Boreal Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 137 g.
Where does the Boreal Owl live?
The Boreal Owl is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL n, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Boreal Owl belong to?
The Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Boreal Owl eat?
The Boreal Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Boreal Owl migrate?
The Boreal Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Boreal Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Boreal Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Boreal Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Boreal Owl's range?
The Boreal Owl has a mapped global range of about 23.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.