Bird field guide · Typical Owls

Photographing the Northern Saw-whet Owl

How to photograph the Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (January, October and November).

17–70 cm1/2000 s
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Kent P. McFarland via iNaturalist
17–70 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/250–1/500 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/4–f/5.6
Aperture
6,296
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/250–1/500 s
Shutter (action)1/2000 s
Aperturef/4–f/5.6
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionMostly crepuscular: lean on a fast lens, high ISO and stabilisation; keep distance and avoid flash at nests.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens300–500 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 44 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)133 mm199 mm89 mm66 mm
10 m (33 ft)266 mm397 mm177 mm133 mm
15 m (49 ft)399 mm596 mm266 mm199 mm
20 m (66 ft)532 mm795 mm354 mm266 mm
30 m (98 ft)798 mm1,192 mm532 mm399 mm
50 m (164 ft)1,329 mm1,987 mm886 mm665 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 14% Jan Feb: 12% Feb Mar: 12% Mar Apr: 5% Apr May: 5% May Jun: 4% Jun Jul: 2% Jul Aug: 2% Aug Sep: 5% Sep Oct: 16% Oct Nov: 13% Nov Dec: 10% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: January, October and November.

About the Northern Saw-whet Owl#

The northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a small owl native to North America.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Never bait or call owls excessively; stay on trails.
  • A long lens (500 mm+) keeps a respectful distance.
  • Mostly crepuscular: lean on a fast lens, high ISO and stabilisation; keep distance and avoid flash at nests.
  • Sightings peak in January, October and November, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Typical Owls#

Great Horned Owl Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus Barred Owl Barred OwlStrix varia Burrowing Owl Burrowing OwlAthene cunicularia Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio Snowy Owl Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Ferruginous Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium brasilianum Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus Western Screech-Owl Western Screech-OwlMegascops kennicottii

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Northern Saw-whet Owl?

At about 44 cm long, a northern saw-whet owl fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 266 mm, or at 20 m with 532 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Northern Saw-whet Owl?

1/250–1/500 s when it's still; 1/2000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Northern Saw-whet Owl?

Observations in North America peak in January, October and November. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources