The Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulua) is a solitary owl that is mostly diurnal. Northern Hawk Owls eat mostly voles and lemmings, but will also go for small birds, frogs, and fish. They have been known to scout the land for prey and then swoop down to get it.

Northern Hawk Owls tend to nest in stump cavities and tree hollows, and occasionally box nests. When mating, the male will advertise nesting sites, and the female picks one. They lay clutches of 5-13 eggs in April and early May, and the male feeds the female while she incubates them. The young become independent of their parents around the end of August. Northern Hawk Owls are monogamous and they will breed anywhere within their range as long as food is abundant.

Northern Hawk Owls can be found anywhere from Norway to Northern China and most of Russia. As for North America, they can be found in most of Alaska and Canada. However, juveniles may stray further south during August. Northern Hawk Owls prefer boreal coniferous forests with clearings, and moors in lowlands/mountains, but will avoid places with dense fir trees.

Fun facts:

- the oldest Northern Hawk Owl lived to be almost 12!

- Northern Hawk Owls locate their prey mostly with their hearing