Northern Hawk-Owl: Nest & eggs

The Northern Hawk-Owl builds no stick nest of its own but uses ready-made cavities high up in the open coniferous forest.

• Nest site: a natural tree hole, an old woodpecker hole, the top of a broken, rotten stump or a mounted nest box.
• Position: often at the edge of clearings and mires where it has a clear view over open ground.
• Clutch size: strongly governed by the vole supply — good rodent years give large clutches, in poor years breeding may fail.

The Northern Hawk-Owl defends its nest site forcefully and may attack anyone who comes too close during the breeding season.

More about the Northern Hawk-Owl

• Song & calls
• Breeding
• Diet
• In winter