Tamaulipas Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium sanchezi
Very small owl of tropical forest in the foothills of northeast Mexico where it is endemic. Favors forest canopy and is rarely seen, but sometimes hunts low at edges; active in the daytime. Most often detected by its distinctive tooting call, given at any time of day but mainly early and late: 13 slow-paced hollow hoots, repeated after a pause. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl favors more open habitats, is seen much more frequently, and has pale streaks (not spots) on the crown and a very different tooting song.
Identification
The adult Tamaulipas pygmy owl has a length of between 13 and 16 cm (5.1 and 6.3 in) with a relatively long tail of between 5.1 and 5.7 cm (2.0 and 2.2 in). Their average weight is 53 g (1.9 oz), the male generally being lighter than the female. The male has a brownish facial disc flecked with white and short white eyebrows. The upper parts are olive-brown, with a greyer crown and fine white speckling at the front and sides of the crown. The main wing and tail feathers are barred in white. The underparts are whitish with some reddish-brown streaking and mottling. The legs are feathered, the bill is yellowish-brown and the eyes are yellow. The female is similar but has an overall more reddish-brown appearance.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Glaucidium sanchezi
- Authority
- Lowery & Newman, RJ, 1949
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Glaucidium
Range and habitat
The Tamaulipas pygmy owl is endemic to Mexico where it is only found in the mountains of northeastern Mexico, in the northern part of the state of Hidalgo and the southeastern part of the state of San Luis Potosí. Its habitat is moist evergreen forest, montane forest and cloud forest at altitudes between about 900 and 2,100 m (3,000 and 6,900 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
This owl is partly diurnal and feeds on insects and small vertebrates such as lizards. Little is known of its breeding habits but it generally chooses a hole in a tree previously used by a woodpecker. A clutch of up to four white eggs is laid and the young are able to fly soon after they emerge from the nest.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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