Photo: MauricioCalderon / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius ridgwayi
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius ridgwayi) — Owls of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius ridgwayi) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 80 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 ridgwayi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 80 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Unspotted Saw-whet 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 Unspotted Saw-whet Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius ridgwayi) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA s Mexico to w Panama.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 80 g, with a wing length of about 13.8 cm and a tail of around 6.7 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 44,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl?
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 80 g.
Where does the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl live?
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA s Mexico to w Panama, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl belong to?
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius ridgwayi) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl eat?
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl migrate?
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Unspotted Saw-whet 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 Unspotted Saw-whet Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Unspotted Saw-whet 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 Unspotted Saw-whet Owl's range?
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl has a mapped global range of about 44,000 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.