British Columbia · Year-round resident

Northern Saw-whet Owls in British Columbia

When saw-whet owls are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.

Owls (Strigidae)Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus

Status in British Columbia: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–9a
Nest box: 2 1/2 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 10–20 ft

When to expect saw-whet owls in British Columbia

Northern Saw-whet Owls live in British Columbia all year. Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.

Nesting in British Columbia

Across British Columbia, saw-whet owls typically nest from April–June. Plan around that window: March for setup, June for clean-out.

Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — saw-whet owls begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 2 1/2 in entrance on a 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft.
Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.

Native British Columbia plants that attract saw-whet owls

Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover saw-whet owls use:

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Oregon white oak

Quercus garryana · Tree

Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Feeding saw-whet owls through the British Columbia year

Top foods: None — a saw-whet box in dense conifers is the draw.
In British Columbia's winter: Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.

Full diet breakdown for saw-whet owls · Best feeder for saw-whet owls

Frequently asked

Are saw-whet owls in British Columbia year-round?

Yes. Northern Saw-whet Owls are year-round residents in British Columbia.

When do saw-whet owls nest in British Columbia?

Nesting in British Columbia typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–7 eggs, incubated for 27–29 days.

What native plants attract saw-whet owls in British Columbia?

Paper birch, Chokecherry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Oregon white oak, Douglas fir, White spruce are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for saw-whet owls.

What size birdhouse hole do saw-whet owls need?

2 1/2 in, with a floor of 6 × 6 in mounted 10–20 ft.

Other backyard birds in British Columbia

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.