Austral Pygmy Owl

Overview

The Austral Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium nana) is a small owl species in the family Strigidae, classified as monotypic. It is distributed across central and southern Chile, as well as parts of southern Argentina.

Identification

• Length ranges from 17 to 21 cm, with males weighing 56–75 g and females 70–100 g.
• Possesses both gray-brown and red morphs, each featuring a pale grayish-brown face with dark flecks, whitish 'brows' over pale yellow eyes, and black 'false eyes' on the nape.
• Upperparts are dark grayish brown or reddish brown with whitish dots, while the tail displays narrow buffy bars.
• Territorial calls include a sharp trill described as 'truie-truie-yi-yi', and pairs maintain contact with a whistle of 6 to 7 notes per second described as 'huj-huj-huj-huj-huj-huj'.

Habitat

Found from Valparaíso Province in Chile and Neuquén Province in western Argentina down to the tip of Tierra del Fuego. The species inhabits a wide range of landscapes, including city parks, farmland, deciduous forests, evergreen shrublands, beech forests, and Patagonian scrub, at elevations from sea level to 2,000 m.

Diet

Primarily diurnal but also active at night, this solitary hunter sallies from perches to capture insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles. It has been documented taking prey almost double its own weight.

Did you know?

Despite being a raptor, the Austral Pygmy Owl is reported to be the most abundant owl in Chile. It faces persecution in agricultural areas because its nocturnal calls are mistakenly interpreted by locals as an ill omen.