A tiny diurnal owl. Despite small size, kills prey larger than itself.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The northern pygmy owl is a small owl native to western North America.
Source: Wikipedia — Northern pygmy owl Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Very small, long-tailed owl with no ear tufts, a finely spotted crown, a rusty-and-gray streaked body, yellow eyes, and two black 'false eye' patches on the back of the head.
Similar species. Elf Owl is smaller with a short tail and lacks the nape eyespots; the long tail and diurnal habits are distinctive for the pygmy-owl.
Voice. A slow, evenly spaced series of single 'toot' notes, sometimes paired; often mobbed by songbirds when calling.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small mammals, birds, insects; hunting style varies by species.
Behavior. A tiny diurnal owl that hunts birds and small mammals by day, often perching atop conifers; has false 'eyespots' on the nape that may deter mobbing songbirds.
§ Range
Western mountains
§ Habitat
Coniferous forests
§ Threats
Forest loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the northern pygmy-owl is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support western forest conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Northern pygmy owl
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Glaucidium gnoma
- IUCN Red List — search for Glaucidium gnoma
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Glaucidium gnoma
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
