The Tengmalm’s Owl is a small nocturnal bird of prey with yellow eyes and a pale facial disk, outlined by a distinctive dark rim. Its plumage is predominantly brown with scattered white spots, which aid in camouflage in the woods. It is a quiet species, but during the breeding season, the male emits a distinctive call to attract the female. It feeds mainly on small mammals, such as mice and voles, but may also hunt insects and smaller birds. It prefers coniferous and mixed forests in mountainous and submontane areas. It nests in natural tree cavities or in nests abandoned by woodpeckers, laying its eggs between March and June.