The Northern Hawk Owl is a fascinating bird that has features of both owls and hawks, which leads many people to wonder whether it is more closely related to one group or the other. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the Northern Hawk Owl’s anatomy, behavior, and taxonomy to better understand where it fits in the avian family tree.
Anatomy
Let’s start by comparing the physical characteristics of the Northern Hawk Owl to typical owls and hawks:
Feature | Northern Hawk Owl | Typical Owl | Typical Hawk |
---|---|---|---|
Eyes | Yellow, front-facing | Large, front-facing | Smaller, side-facing |
Beak | Hooked | Hooked | Hooked |
Wings | Long, broad | Broad, rounded | Long, pointed |
Tail | Long | Short | Medium length |
Feet | Partially feathered | Feathered | Bare |
Plumage | Cryptic brown/white | Cryptic brown/grey | Variable colors |
As you can see, the Northern Hawk Owl has some features typical of owls, like front-facing eyes, a hooked beak, cryptic plumage, and partially feathered feet. However, it also shares some hawk-like characteristics such as long, broad wings and a proportionally long tail.
Behavior
In terms of behavior, the Northern Hawk Owl falls somewhere in between the two groups:
Behavior | Northern Hawk Owl | Typical Owl | Typical Hawk |
---|---|---|---|
Hunting strategy | Perch hunting | Perch hunting | Aerial hunting |
Activity cycle | Diurnal | Nocturnal | Diurnal |
Flight style | Silent, accipiter-like | Silent, buoyant | Vocal, powerful wingbeats |
Nesting | Tree cavities | Tree cavities, ledges | Ledges, cliffsides, trees |
The Northern Hawk Owl shares the silent flight and perch hunting strategy of owls. However, it is active during the day like a hawk and has a more accipiter-like flight style with flaps and glides. Its nesting behavior is probably the most owl-like characteristic.
Taxonomy
Taxonomically, the Northern Hawk Owl is classified in the family Strigidae along with all other owls. Strigidae belongs to the order Strigiformes, while hawks are members of Accipitriformes.
Within Strigidae, the Northern Hawk Owl belongs to the subfamily Surniinae, or the typical owl group. Its closest relatives are the Northern Saw-whet Owl and Boreal Owl.
So despite the “hawk” in its name, the Northern Hawk Owl is 100% an owl in terms of evolutionary lineage. The hawk-like traits it possesses are examples of convergent evolution, where similar traits evolve independently in unrelated species occupying comparable ecological niches.
Conclusion
To summarize, the Northern Hawk Owl has a mix of anatomical, behavioral, and morphological characteristics reflective of both hawks and owls. However, taxonomically it is classified as a true owl, closely related to other species in the typical owl subfamily.
The hawk-like attributes of the Northern Hawk Owl like its long tail, accipiter-like flight style, and diurnal activity cycle represent evolutionary convergences that allow it to fill a similar predatory niche as forest-dwelling hawks. So while it has “hawk” in the name, it is very much a specialized owl perfectly adapted to hunt in open northern forests.
Some additional key facts about the Northern Hawk Owl:
Range
- Found across northern North America and Eurasia in boreal forest regions
- In North America, ranges from Alaska across Canada to Labrador and the Great Lakes states
- Primarily resides in Canada year-round but irrupts southward some years
Identification
- Medium-sized owl about 15 inches long with a 28 inch wingspan
- Dark and light brown striped plumage on front, barred brown pattern on wings
- Long tail with distinct black and white bands
- Bright yellow eyes, facial disk, and bill
Hunting and Feeding
- hunts small mammals, birds, and insects by perching on tree branches
- Flies swiftly from perch to catch prey on the ground with talons
- Sometimes hovers briefly to spot prey
- Regularly active during daylight hours, unlike most owls
Breeding
- Nests in an old woodpecker cavity or natural tree hollow
- Lays 3-11 eggs and incubates for 25-34 days
- Young fledge the nest at around 30 days old
So in conclusion, the Northern Hawk Owl is a fascinating case of convergent evolution between owls and hawks. But despite some deceiving hawk-like traits, it is taxonomically a true member of the owl family. Hopefully this clears up the confusion surrounding this wonderfully adapted avian predator of the far north!