Aegolius gradyi
The Bermuda Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius gradyi) is a fascinating, albeit extinct, endemic owl species known exclusively from fossil remains discovered on Bermuda. Described in 2010, this enigmatic raptor was a relatively small owl, inferred to be similar in general morphology to its closest living relatives, the Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) and the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus), but with distinctly more robust limb bones. This robustness suggests adaptations to an insular existence, ...
This owl inhabited the dense, subtropical forests of pre-settlement Bermuda, likely favoring areas with a rich understory and abundant cavities for roosting and nesting. It thrived across the island's low-lying terrain, from coastal woodlands to interior cedar forests.
The Bermuda Saw-whet Owl preyed primarily on Bermuda's native small birds, endemic lizards (such as the Bermuda Skink), and large insects, utilizing an ambush predation strategy from a low perch.
Inferred from its extant relatives, the Bermuda Saw-whet Owl was almost certainly a strictly nocturnal hunter, emerging at dusk to patrol its territories. Its robust skeletal structure suggests it may have been less migratory than continental saw-whets, possibly exhibiting reduced flight or enhan...
The Bermuda Saw-whet Owl was endemic to the isolated North Atlantic archipelago of Bermuda. Its entire known distribution is confined to these islands, where its fossil remains have been discovered in various cave and quarry deposits across the main island. These findings indicate that the specie...
Data Deficient
- The species name 'gradyi' honors Dr. Frederick Grady, who played a significant role in collecting and identifying Bermuda's fossil avifauna. - Its robust limb bones, particularly the tibiotarsus, suggest it was a strong, perhaps less volant, island-adapted predator compared to its mainland rela...