North Carolina · Winter visitor

Northern Saw-whet Owls in North Carolina

When saw-whet owls are present in North Carolina, when they nest, which native North Carolina plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–8b yard.

Owls (Strigidae)Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus

Status in North Carolina: Winter visitor
Nesting window: Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones: USDA 5b–8b

When to expect saw-whet owls in North Carolina

In North Carolina, saw-whet owls are winter visitors rather than breeders. Black-capped Chickadees and other northern birds are confined to the highest mountains; lowlands stay mild.

Mountains, Piedmont and coastal plain differ sharply — cool, snowy highlands to mild, humid coast.

Native North Carolina plants that attract saw-whet owls

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

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

The state flower and a top fall fruit source.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

June fruit.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Winter food and cover.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

Feeding saw-whet owls through the North Carolina year

Top foods: None — a saw-whet box in dense conifers is the draw.
In North Carolina's winter: Black-capped Chickadees and other northern birds are confined to the highest mountains; lowlands stay mild.

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

Frequently asked

Are saw-whet owls in North Carolina year-round?

No. Northern Saw-whet Owls are winter visitors in North Carolina and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract saw-whet owls in North Carolina?

Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, Eastern red cedar, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush are native plants in North Carolina that provide food or cover for saw-whet owls.

Other backyard birds in North Carolina

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird House Sparrow European Starling White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow 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 Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Scarlet Tanager Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo White-eyed Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Barn Owl Red-cockaded Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Horned Lark Blue Grosbeak White-winged Crossbill Brown-headed Nuthatch Yellow-billed Cuckoo Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle 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.