The Northern Saw-whet owl has a round head, yellow eyes and a black bill. Dorsally, it is brown with white spots.
Juveniles molt into adultlike plumage by early winter.
The Boreal owls are slihtly larger, have a yellow or white bill rectangulars heads, white facials disks and are darker brown overall with no reddish tinge. Similar to oned of the Northern Pygmy owl calls. Begins nesting in April. Nests in woodpecker holes and possibly natural caveties. The clutch size is 4 to 6 with an incubation period about 26 days and the young fledge at approximately 30 days.