Amazonian Pygmy Owl

Overview

The Amazonian pygmy owl, also known as Hardy's pygmy owl, is a true owl in the family Strigidae found in northern South America and the Amazon Basin. It is a very small species, with the name 'glaucidium' indicating its diminutive size.

Identification

• Large round head spotted with black marks that falsely look like eyes; gray-brown crown with tiny white dots.
• Rectrices and remidges are dark brown with three irregular bars of large white spots; white underparts with broad brown or rufous streaks.
• Measures 14–15 cm in length and weighs approximately 60 g; no sexual dimorphism in adults.
• Bright golden yellow irises, greenish yellow bill, and pale yellow cere; juveniles have unspotted crowns.
• Main call consists of repeated, short, high-pitched tweets.

Habitat

Occurs in the canopy and subcanopy of tall, humid, tropical evergreen forests in the central and southwestern Amazonia region. Its range includes northern Bolivia, Peru, eastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, at elevations from lowlands to above 1100 meters.

Diet

Very little information exists on the specific diet, but they presumably prey on large arthropods and small vertebrates. One observed nest received a large cicada and a small bird as food for the young.

Did you know?

Despite being a predator, the Amazonian pygmy owl is frequently the subject of mobbing behavior by its own prey as a defense mechanism.