How to attract saw-whet owls to your yard
Northern Saw-whet Owls respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 62 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a year-round resident in 35 states and provinces, including Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut and 29 more — there, a yard can host it in every season. It is a winter visitor in 27, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia and 21 more, where feeders and winter fruit matter most.
Plant what saw-whet owls use
These native plants are tied to the Northern Saw-whet Owl in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 43 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 43 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
| Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana | Tree | 39 | Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter. |
| Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | Tree | 39 | Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed. |
| White oak Quercus alba | Tree | 37 | Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food. |
| Flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Tree | 30 | Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 29 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | 26 | Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover. |
| Spicebush Lindera benzoin | Shrub | 23 | Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants. |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 21 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
Your list covers 2 plant layers (shrub, tree). Layering matters: add structure around these — a shrub layer under the trees gives saw-whet owls a safe approach. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Deer mice and other small rodents, hunted at night.
- Warm months
- Deer mice, voles and shrews
- Cold months
- Mice and voles; caches prey in cold weather
- At feeders
- None — a saw-whet box in dense conifers is the draw
Feeder style matters as much as food: shallow bird bath (1–2 in deep) is the first choice for this bird. Astonishingly tame when roosting in dense conifers by day; uses nest boxes readily. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Old woodpecker cavity or nest box in mixed forest.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl uses nest boxes with a 2 1/2 in entrance, mounted 10–20 ft. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 4–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 27–29 days
- Nestling period
- 27–34 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around February in California but not until April in Yukon. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; residents usually find a stocked yard first.
Frequently asked
What attracts saw-whet owls to a yard?
Food they actually eat (none — a saw-whet box in dense conifers is the draw), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Eastern red cedar, clean water and suitable nesting cover: old woodpecker cavity or nest box in mixed forest.
What plants attract saw-whet owls?
Across the Northern Saw-whet Owl's range, the native plants most often tied to it are American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), White oak (Quercus alba). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting saw-whet owls?
Nesting starts around February in California and as late as April in Yukon. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.
Sources
- Northern Saw-whet Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Saw-whet Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Saw-whet Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.