Northern Hawk Owl

Surnia ulula

While the northern hawk owl (Surnia ulula) shares many characteristics with smaller hawks, from its long, tapered tail and facial feathers to its diurnal hunting behaviours, it is in fact an owl. A resident in the boreal forests of northern latitudes, including in British Columbia and most of Canada, this raptor finds ideal hunting grounds in open spaces with access to prominent perches from which it can scout out prey.

Characteristics

The northern hawk owl is a slender, medium-sized owl with hawk-like features. It has a long, rounded tail and fairly pointed wings for an owl. The species lacks ear tufts, contrasting many other types of owls, and has a characteristic greyish-white facial disc with thick black rims bordering the sides of the face..

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