Солтүстік бүркіт сияқты сұңқар құс

Species of owl

The northern hawk owl or northern hawk owl (Surnia ulula) is a medium sized true owl of the northern latitudes. It is non migratory and usually stays within its breeding range, though it sometimes irrupts southward. It is one of the few owls that is neither nocturnal nor crepuscular, being active only during the day. This is the only living species in the genus Surnia of the family Strigidae, the "typical" owls (as opposed to barn owls, Tytonidae). The species is sometimes called simply the hawk owl; however, many species of owls in the genus Ninox are also called "hawk owls".

Male northern hawk owls are generally long and weigh about Females are slightly bigger with a length of and a mass of about Both male and female have similar wingspans of about The northern hawk owl plumage is relatively dark brown with an off white spotting pattern on all dorsal parts of the body with the exception of the back of the neck which boasts a black v shaped pattern. The underbelly is generally white or off white which continues to the toes with brown bands on the breast and stomach. It also has a long tail with brown banding. The northern hawk owl has a smokey white face with a black border, a flat head, yellow eyes and a yellow curved beak. The northern hawk owl has been said to resemble a hawk in appearance and in behavior. In North America, its appearance in flight is often considered similar to a Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii). It has been suggested that this may be because the hawk owl may partially fill an important diurnal niche similar to that of day hunters such as hawks. The North American subspecies S. u. caparoch spans from eastern Alaska through Canada to Newfoundland and in some areas extends south into northern United States. Frogs and even fish are sometimes taken. In the winter, feeding strategies change: where in summer the main source of food is mammals, in the winter a bigger portion of the hawk owl's biomass consists of ground dwelling birds, such as the ptarmigan and the grouse. In Yukon, northern hawk owl densities were estimated to be between zero and six pairs per Compared to the nineteenth century, southern irruptions in the New and Old World appear to have declined. Downes et al. (2000) considered the hawk owl to be of medium concern, but with a high priority to improve monitoring.

The northern hawk owl is considered a falconry bird in Ontario, and may be used to hunt small game with a proper license.