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| Northern Pygmy-Owl |
Drawing Courtesy of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks |
Glaucidium gnoma |
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The Northern Pygmy-Owl is such a special bird that hopefully you all will come to the Bird Rescue Center on February 26th to see one up close. When one sat outside Janice's dining room window last year for about 2 hours on a rainy afternoon she only recognized it because of the Owl Program her family participated in through Pee Wee Audubon. They are so small and beautiful, and the "eye spots" in the back of its head are really amazing! They are only 6 to 7 inches long and weigh just 2 to 3 ounces. They are round-headed, with yellow eyes and a bill that is yellow, yellow/green, yellow/black, or yellow/white. Eyebrows are a distinctive white. The head is finely spotted. Its habitat is not well known, but is most often seen in mixed fir forests. It has two songs: "Toot, toot, toot...," given rapidly 6 to 8 times. Similar to Saw-Whet Owl call. The most often heard song is its breeding season call, "Toot (pause) toot..." The Northern Pygmy-Owl's courtship ritual includes erratic flight near the nest, low trilling call by the perched female accompanied by the male with ritual feeding of female by male. It has 3-5 eggs in a clutch. The male brings the food and the female feeds the young. It is known to hunt during the day (diurnal) but most often at dusk or dawn. Diet consists of small birds, mammals, insects, and probably a few reptiles and amphibians. Small birds may be an important part of its diet. Unlike other owls it does not ingest the feathers and bones of its prey so pellets are not formed. The Northern Pygmy Owl is listed as a species of special concern by official agencies. |
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Northern Pymy-Owl
Breeding Distribution Map
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Glaucidium brasilianum |
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