Ashley and Crippen Photographers, Toronto|Corporate Headshots/Executive Headshots 

Birds

Northern Hawk Owl

Although it is relatively uncommon, the Northern Hawk Owl might be seen flying fast and low between the trees of boreal forests. Since daylight hours are much longer above the Artic circle in summer it hunts in daylight and at night but very rarely ventures further south of its mapped range. Since it usually has little contact with humans it may appear very tame, sitting still when approached. It does not build a nest, but lays 3-7 white eggs in the nest of another bird or in a tree cavity or stump. These are mainly incubated by the female for around 3-4 weeks after hatching. The adult is a medium-size, hawk-like bird with yellow eyes and a long pointed tail. Its plumage is dark brown above with white blotches and dots, brown with white horizontal barring below, and it has pale facial discs edged in black and narrow pale bars on the tail. The juvenile lacks most of the cross-barring and is much plainer. The Northern Hawk Owl feeds mainly on rodents, including lemmings, but in winter will also take small birds.