Northern Hawk Owl: The Owl That Behaves Like a Hawk

Owl Facts & Wildlife Education
August 11, 2026

Northern Hawk Owl Quick Facts:

Scientific name: Surnia ulula
Habitat: Boreal forests, bogs, open spruce woods, burned forests, and forest edges
Range: Alaska, Canada, parts of the northern United States in some winters, northern Europe, and northern Asia
Size: About 14–18 inches tall
Wingspan: About 28–35 inches
Diet: Mostly voles, mice, lemmings, shrews, and small birds
Activity: Mostly active during the day, especially for an owl
Main claim to fame: It looks like an owl but hunts and moves more like a hawk

Owl vs Hawk: Key Differences

Owls and hawks are both raptors, which means they are birds of prey. They both have hooked beaks, sharp talons, and a very serious “I saw that mouse first” attitude.

But they are built differently.

Owls usually have forward-facing eyes, rounder heads, facial disks, softer feathers, and owl adaptations that make them excellent nighttime hunters. Hawks usually have sleeker bodies, long tails, strong daytime vision, and flight styles built for chasing, soaring, or quick attacks during the day.

The northern hawk owl sits in a funny middle space. It has owl eyes and an owl face, but it hunts more like a daytime raptor. It is not actually related to hawks in some special half-and-half way. It is fully an owl.

It just behaves a little differently than most people expect.

The Owl That Behaves Like a Hawk

The northern hawk owl is called a hawk owl because of how it hunts, flies, and perches.

Most owls are more secretive. They sit quietly, camouflage into trees, and often hunt at night or around dusk.

Northern hawk owls are much bolder in the open. They perch on the tops of trees, watch for prey, and then swoop down quickly when they spot movement below.

Unlike most nocturnal owls, northern hawk owls hunt throughout the day, especially in the early morning and late evening.

Their flight is part of the name too. Northern hawk owls have long tails and pointed wings, and their flight pattern looks a lot like certain hawks.

So no, it is not half hawk and half owl.

It is just an owl that apparently missed the memo about acting like one.

Northern hawk owl holding a vole after hunting in a forest

What Does a Northern Hawk Owl Look Like?

Northern hawk owls have a mix of features that make them look both owl-like and hawk-like at the same time.

Like owls, they have:

Round facial disks
Yellow eyes
Dark markings around the face
Rounded owl faces

But they also have:

Long tails
Pointed wings
A more streamlined body shape

Like hawks.

They are medium-sized owls, not tiny, but not giant either. The Owl Research Institute lists them at about 14–15 inches tall, with males and females looking fairly similar.

Where Do Northern Hawk Owls Live?

Northern hawk owls live in the far, far north.

They live in boreal forests, which are the cold northern forests filled with spruce trees, bogs, wetlands, tamarack forests, and open woodland edges.

In North America, they are mostly found in Alaska and Canada. In some winters, they move farther south into parts of the northern United States, especially when food becomes harder to find farther north.

They do not usually prefer thick, closed-in forests. They like more open areas near trees, where they can perch high and still clearly see the ground below while hunting.

Where Do Northern Hawk Owls Nest?

Northern hawk owl standing at a tree cavity nest in a boreal forest

Northern hawk owls usually nest in tree cavities, broken tree tops, old woodpecker holes, or other natural openings.

Unlike some birds, they do not build large stick nests themselves.

Because they rely on cavities and damaged trees for nesting, standing dead trees can actually be a very important habitat for them.

Do Northern Hawk Owls Hunt During the Day?

Yes. Northern hawk owls are one of the more daytime-active owls.

While many nocturnal owl species hunt mostly at night, northern hawk owls spend a lot of time hunting during daylight hours, especially during the early morning and late afternoon.

They often perch high on exposed treetops watching for movement below, then swoop down quickly to catch prey.

Unlike many owls that rely heavily on nighttime hearing and silent ambush hunting, northern hawk owls depend more on eyesight and active searching. They scan open areas for movement and hunt in a fast, direct way.

That daytime hunting style is one of the biggest reasons they remind people so much of hawks.

Their hearing is still very good, and they can even detect prey beneath snow. But compared to owls that are built mainly for nighttime hunting, northern hawk owls rely much more heavily on vision.

What Do Northern Hawk Owls Eat?

Northern hawk owls mostly eat small mammals, especially voles.

They also eat mice, lemmings, shrews, small squirrels, and sometimes birds.

Their diet can shift with the season. During summer, they feed heavily on rodents, while winter diets may include more birds when rodents become harder to find.

Like many owls, their lives are closely tied to prey numbers. When rodent populations are strong, food is easier to find. When prey becomes scarce, some northern hawk owls may move into new areas searching for better hunting.

What Does a Northern Hawk Owl Sound Like?

Northern hawk owls do not always sound like the deep “hoo hoo” people usually expect from owls.

They can make whistles, chatter-like calls, alarm calls, and sharp repeated sounds sometimes described as “ki-ki-ki.”

Some people describe their calls as sounding more hawk-like than owl-like.

So even their voice likes to keep people guessing.

Very on brand.

All Raptors Need Protecting

Whether we are talking about barn owls, hawks, or northern hawk owls, all raptors play an important role in the environment.

Birds of prey help keep ecosystems balanced naturally. Many owls, including northern hawk owls and barn owls, eat rodents as a major part of their diet, which helps naturally control rodent populations.

At Ramona Barn Owls, a huge part of our mission is helping people understand that owls are not just fascinating to watch. They are important wildlife that help support healthy ecosystems every single day.

When people choose safer rodent control methods, support owl education, and learn more about the birds living around them, they help protect more than one species. They help protect the entire food chain.

So whether it is a barn owl hunting over Southern California fields or a northern hawk owl perched in a snowy boreal forest, the message is the same:

Wildlife is worth protecting.

If you want to support our mission, you can also watch and share our 24/7 owl livestream, help spread awareness about poison-free rodent control, or shop our owl clothing line to help fund our owl education and rescue efforts.

Northern Hawk Owl Frequently Asked Questions

Are Northern Hawk Owls Rare?

Northern hawk owls are not considered globally rare, but most people do not see them very often because they live so far north. They are mostly found in Alaska and Canada, especially in remote boreal forests.

Are Northern Hawk Owls Nocturnal?

Northern hawk owls are not as nocturnal as many other owl species. While they can still be active at night, they are known for hunting during the daytime, especially during the early morning and late afternoon.

Why Is It Called a Hawk Owl?

The northern hawk owl gets its name because it behaves more like a hawk than most owls do. It hunts during the day, perches high in the open, has a long tail, and flies in a fast, direct way that reminds people of hawks.

Do Northern Hawk Owls Migrate?

Some northern hawk owls move south during winter when prey becomes harder to find farther north. Usually connected to food availability rather than a strict migration pattern, like some birds follow every year.

Are Northern Hawk Owls Bigger Than Barn Owls?

Barn owls are generally larger overall than northern hawk owls. Northern hawk owls are medium-sized owls with long tails and slimmer bodies, while barn owls tend to have broader wings and a more rounded body shape.

Do Northern Hawk Owls Use Owl Boxes?

Northern hawk owls usually nest in natural tree cavities or broken tree tops rather than manmade owl boxes. Because they live mostly in remote northern forests, they are less commonly associated with nest box programs than species like barn owls.