Auditory localization in the northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus

Abstract

Although there are several anecdotal reports in the literature that northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) have extremely accurate auditory localization abilities, there have been no attempts to quantify these observations. In this study we used the search coil technique to obtain precise measurements of the northern saw-whet owl's head orientation toward either cricket chirps or mouse squeaks presented through speakers at various azimuthal positions. The results indicate owls of this species can orient their heads toward sound sources with great accuracy in the azimuthal plane, yielding mean errors of <1.0°, but show a slight tendency to undershoot more peripherally located sounds. Vertical localization is somewhat less precise, but still very accurate. Subsequent studies will be aimed at elucidating the physiological and anatomical substrates of this extreme accuracy in auditory localization ability.