Yungas Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium bolivianum
Small brown-and-white owl found in humid montane habitats. Variably reddish or grayish brown, with white spotting throughout and a black-and-white false eye pattern on the back of its head characteristic of pygmy-owls. Found in humid habitats at higher elevations than other pygmy-owls. Listen for its tooting song, usually given at a pace of about two toots per second.
Identification
The Yungas pygmy owl is about 16 cm (6.3 in) long. Males weigh 55 to 58 g (1.9 to 2.0 oz) and females average 66.5 g (2.35 oz). The species has three color morphs, a rare gray one and common and widespread brown and rufous morphs. All have pale dots on the crown, back, and upper wings and pale bands on the tail. Their napes have "false eyes". Their undersides are pale with brownish streaks on the flanks and belly.
Taxonomy
The Yungas pygmy owl has been treated as a subspecies of Andean pygmy owl (Glaucidium jardinii) but since at least the 1990s has been accepted as a species in its own right and sister to G. jardinii. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Glaucidium bolivianum
- Authority
- König, C, 1991
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Glaucidium
Range and habitat
The Yungas pygmy owl is found on the eastern slope of the Andes of Peru south through Bolivia into northwestern Argentina. In elevation it usually ranges between 1,400 and 3,000 m (4,600 and 9,800 ft) but can be found as low as 900 m (3,000 ft) and in Bolivia as high as 3,900 m (12,800 ft). It inhabits montane forest and cloudforest with heavy undergrowth and much moss and epiphytes, and also Podocarpus forest. It usually is found from the mid-levels of the forest into the canopy.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
The Yungas pymy owl is primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, though it can be active in daylight. It forages mostly in the canopy and in dense foliage below it for insects and other arthropods, small birds, and possibly reptiles.<p>Almost nothing is known about the Yungas pygmy owl's breeding phenology. It is thought to nest primarily in old woodpecker holes.<p>The Yungas pygmy owl's song is a "rather slow series of equally spaced hollow notes" sometimes preceded by two or three whistled notes.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Greater Lophorina
Lophorina latipennis
A fairly large bird of mid-montane forest, including disturbed areas with Casuarinas. Male, mainly black plumage with 2 remarkable erectile fans which are lifted up over the head during its display, metallic, blue-green, trapezium-shaped breast shield and patches above the eyes. Female has a gray-brown back with rufous flight feathers, barred underparts, a broad, black eye-stripe and white eye-brow. Female similar to female parotias, but is slightly smaller and has a dark eye. Female also similar to female Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise but is larger and has a black bill. The male’s yellow-green interior of the mouth is visible whilst it gives its piercing nasal screech.
Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner
Neophilydor erythrocercum
A medium-sized bird, brownish above and pale buff below, with a bright rufous rump and tail and a distinctive buffy line behind the eye. Found in tall rainforest, where it occurs mainly in the midstory and canopy, but occasionally in the understory. Will follow mixed species flocks at all levels. Feeds on insects and forages actively, often investigating dead leaf clusters and other accumulations of detritus. Song is a short, weak series of squeaking notes that fades away; call is a hard doubled note. Most similar to Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner but somewhat larger and more likely to occur at lower levels in the forest; both tail and rump are rufous in Rufous-rumped.
Mottled Wood-Owl
Strix ocellata
Medium-sized patchy-looking owl with dark eyes. Densely-marked orange-and-gray coloration is unique. Typically gives single hoots, but also gives an odd, mellow tremolo vocalization in the breeding season. A lowland species, favoring groves and clusters of trees in open plains and on the edges of cultivated areas.
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