Arctic Saw-whet Owl
CR

Arctic Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius funereus

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreal_owl

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Tengmalm's Owl faces severe threats from climate change-induced habitat shifts that are pushing suitable boreal forest conditions northward and to higher elevations, fragmenting populations and reducing available nesting sites. Intensive forestry practices that remove old-growth forests eliminate essential nesting cavities, while habitat fragmentation disrupts prey availability and breeding success across much of its range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mature boreal and montane coniferous forests, particularly old-growth spruce, fir, and pine forests with abundant tree cavities for nesting. Also occupies mixed deciduous-coniferous woodlands and forest edges, typically at elevations from sea level to 2,200m in mountainous regions.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Strigidae

Great Grey OwlVU

Great Grey Owl

Strix nebulosa

Unknown
Fearful OwlVU

Fearful Owl

Nesasio solomonensis

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Bog OwlCR

Bog Owl

Asio flammeus

Unknown
CucumiauEN

Cucumiau

Athene noctua

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Arctic Saw-whet Owl classified as Critically Endangered?
Arctic Saw-whet Owl is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Tengmalm's Owl faces severe threats from climate change-induced habitat shifts that are pushing suitable boreal forest conditions northward and to higher elevations, fragmenting populations and reducing available nesting sites. Intensive forestry practices that remove old-growth forests eliminate essential nesting cavities, while habitat fragmentation disrupts prey availability and breeding success across much of its range.
Where does Arctic Saw-whet Owl live?
Arctic Saw-whet Owl occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Arctic Saw-whet Owl?
The main threats to Arctic Saw-whet Owl are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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