Aegolius funereus
Local name: Tengmalm’s Owl
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreal_owl
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Strigiformes
Family
Strigidae
Genus
Aegolius
Aegolius funereus belongs to the family Strigidae, order Strigiformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
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.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
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.
Climate change and habitat range shifts
Habitat fragmentation
Nest cavity shortage due to forestry practices
Old-growth forest loss from logging
Prey population fluctuations
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Aegolius funereus (Aegolius funereus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/tengmalms-owl