How long do saw-whet owls live?
The oldest Northern Saw-whet Owl on record lived to 17.5 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild saw-whet owls live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 17.5 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 4–7 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 7.1–8.3 in, 2.3–5.3 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 5 of 6
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Northern Saw-whet Owl can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Saw-whet owls usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 4–7 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 27–29 days to hatch.
How saw-whet owls compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other owls on this site.
- Barred Owl34 years
- Great Horned Owl29 years
- Eastern Screech-Owl20.7 years
- Western Screech-Owl19 years
- Burrowing Owl11 years
More about saw-whet owls
Frequently asked
How long do saw-whet owls live?
The longest-lived Northern Saw-whet Owl on record reached 17.5 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild saw-whet owls live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Northern Saw-whet Owl when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Northern Saw-whet Owl ever recorded?
17.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Northern Saw-whet Owl raise in a year?
Pairs lay 4–7 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info