Oregon · Year-round resident

Northern Saw-whet Owls in Oregon

When saw-whet owls are present in Oregon, when they nest, which native Oregon plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9b yard.

Owls (Strigidae)Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus

Status in Oregon: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4b–9b
Nest box: 2 1/2 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 10–20 ft

When to expect saw-whet owls in Oregon

Northern Saw-whet Owls live in Oregon all year. Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.

Nesting in Oregon

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

Dry summers west of the Cascades; hot days in the high desert.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — 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 Oregon plants that attract saw-whet owls

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

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

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.

Feeding saw-whet owls through the Oregon year

Top foods: None — a saw-whet box in dense conifers is the draw.
In Oregon's winter: Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.

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

Frequently asked

Are saw-whet owls in Oregon year-round?

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

When do saw-whet owls nest in Oregon?

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

What native plants attract saw-whet owls in Oregon?

Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Oregon white oak, Douglas fir are native plants in Oregon 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 Oregon

Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Oak Titmouse Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch California Towhee Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black 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 Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey 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 Green-tailed Towhee Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's 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.