Andean Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium jardinii
Very small owl of the upper subtropics and temperate forest. Typical pygmy-owl plumage: mostly brown or rufous above, white below with messy brown stripes, and small whitish spots on crown. Sexes similar. Found at higher elevations than other pygmy-owls, mostly from 2,500–3,500 m. Usually seen in the daytime perched at middle or upper levels of forest, often being mobbed by hummingbirds or small passerines. Typically detected by song, which can be given at any time of day but mainly early and late: a series of whistled toots, sometimes with a few quavering notes at the beginning.
Identification
The Andean pygmy owl is 15 to 16 cm (5.9 to 6.3 in) long. Males weigh 54.9 to 77.4 g (1.9 to 2.7 oz) and females 54.6 to 75 g (1.9 to 2.6 oz). It has two distinct color morphs; in one the head, most of the body, wings, and tail are dull dark brown with white markings and in the other the same areas are dark chestnut with buff markings. In both the crown has small white dots. They have white "brows" over yellow eyes, white "moustaches", and a broad white throat. Their nape has a black and white face-like pattern. Their backs have spots and the tail bars, white or buff respectively. The sides of the breast are dark brown or chestnut with pale markings; the white breast and belly have heavy dark brown or chestnut streaks.
Taxonomy
The Andean pygmy owl is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Glaucidium jardinii
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1855)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Glaucidium
Range and habitat
The Andean pygmy owl is found in far western Venezuela and the central and western Andes of Colombia south through Ecuador to central Peru. It inhabits a variety of mountain landscapes including cloudforest, elfin forest, Polylepis woodland, and sometimes more open landscapes like forest edge and pastures with scattered trees. It is found from the middle levels of the forest to the canopy. In elevation it ranges from about 1,500 to 3,500 m (4,900 to 11,500 ft) in Colombia and somewhat higher in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Andean pygmy owl is active both day and night. Its diet is invertebrates, small birds, and small mammals.<p>The Andean pygmy owl's breeding phenology is poorly known. It nests in tree cavities such as old woodpecker holes. The clutch size is usually three.<p>The Andean pygmy owl's song is a "long series of rapidly delivered, evenly spaced 'poop' notes" that is sometimes preceded by two whistles.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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A striking bicolored bushshrike that is easily identified if seen well: glossy blue-black above and brilliant orange-yellow below. Juvenile is duller, browner above with buffy spots on the wings. Singles and pairs prefer the undergrowth and thickets and tangles of montane forest between 700 and 2900 meters of elevation, regularly haunting forest edges, but occasionally climbing into the canopy to forage. Calls are variable, but mostly comprise loud ringing whistles answered by swishing, electric buzzing, and grating notes in a synchronized duet. Some calls are like those of Western Boubou.
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