Northern Hawk-Owl: In winter

The Northern Hawk-Owl is chiefly a resident that remains in the northern coniferous forests even in winter.

• Diurnal: it hunts in daylight year-round and is often seen perched openly in a treetop keeping watch, even in winter.
• Diet: it lives on small rodents and catches voles by plunging down from a lookout perch or hovering over snow-covered ground.
• Irruptions: in years of rodent scarcity in the north, Northern Hawk-Owls move south, sometimes as far as Götaland, in search of prey.

The strong dependence on rodents means the Northern Hawk-Owl's winter movements swing greatly from year to year.

More about the Northern Hawk-Owl

• Song & calls
• Breeding
• Nest & eggs
• Diet