Investigations of the Breeding Ecology of the Northern Hawk Owl in Western Montana

Abstract

In North America, the Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) primarily breeds in the boreal regions of Alaska and Canada. It also can move southward into the contiguous lower 48 United States, occasionally breeding in states of northern latitude. In the contiguous states, Northern Hawk Owl nests are primarily documented in Montana and Minnesota.  This study describes nest-site characteristics, habitat associations, breeding diet, and distribution of 15 Northern Hawk Owl nests from Glacier National Park and surrounding areas in northwestern Montana.