Pacific pygmy owl

Pacific pygmy owl

Peruvian pygmy owl

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Glaucidium peruanum

The Pacific pygmy owl or Peruvian pygmy owl (Glaucidium peruanum ) is a small "typical owl" in subfamily Surniinae. It is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.

Appearance

The Pacific pygmy owl is 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) long. Males weigh about 60 g (2.1 oz) and females about 65 g (2.3 oz). In addition to being heavier, females also have slightly longer wings and tails than males, but both sexes have the same plumage. The species has gray, brown, and rufous color morphs, with the first two predominating. The upperparts of gray morph adults are grayish brown with buff streaks on the forecrown and buff spots on the crown and nape. An incomplete white "collar" and oval black spots on the neck give the appearance of eyes. The shoulders and back have whitish spots. The tail is also grayish brown, with up to seven whitish bars across it. The throat is white, the sides of the breast grayish brown, and the rest of the underparts whitish with rufuous streaks. The other morphs replace the grayish brown with dark brown or rufous respectively. In addition, the bars on the rufous morph's tail are rusty brown or orange-buff and the streaking on the underparts is more diffuse than on the other two morphs. In all morphs the eye is lemon yellow and the bill and feet yellow-green. Juveniles have essentially the same plumage as adults but their crown has no streaks or spots.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

The Pacific pygmy owl is found on the western slope of the Andes from Manabí, Pichincha, and Los Ríos provinces in north-central Ecuador south through Peru into Chile as far as the Antofagasta Region. It also is found in several semiarid valleys within the western Andes. In Ecuador it usually occurs from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) of elevation but is locally found as high as 2,400 m (7,900 ft). In Peru it occurs up to 3,300 m (10,800 ft) and in Chile up to 3,500 m (11,500 ft). The species inhabits a variety of moist to arid landscapes including deciduous and riparian forest, arid lowland and montane scrublands, agricultural areas with large trees, and gardens in built-up areas.

Pacific pygmy owl habitat map
Pacific pygmy owl habitat map
Pacific pygmy owl
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Habits and Lifestyle

The Pacific pygmy owl is a year-round resident throughout its range.

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

The Pacific pygmy owl hunts both day and night, generally from the forest's mid-level to the canopy. Its diet has not been defined in detail but is known to include birds, small mammals and other vertebrates, and large arthropods.

Mating Habits

Almost nothing is known about the Pacific pygmy-owl's breeding phenology, although it is assumed to be like that of other members of genus Glaucidium. It is known to nest in tree cavities and has been recorded breeding in old nests of the pale-legged hornero (Furnarius leucopus ) and in holes in walls and river banks.

Population

Population number

The IUCN has assessed the Pacific pygmy owl as being of Least Concern. It has a large range, and though its population size is not known it is believed to be stable. No specific threats have been identified. It is considered common in Ecuador and fairly common to common in Peru. "It tolerates human presence, as long as cavities are available for nesting, and even occurs in town plazas and in gardens."

References

1. Pacific pygmy owl Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_pygmy_owl
2. Pacific pygmy owl on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22689253/93223829
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/672310

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