Andean Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium jardinii)

Andean Pygmy Owl

[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Glaucidium jardinii | [authority] Bonaparte, 1855 | [UK] Andean Pygmy Owl | [FR] Chevechette des Andes | [DE] Andenkauz | [ES] Cabure andino (Arg), Mochuelo Andino, Mochuelo Montanero (Cr) | [NL] Andesdwerguil

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Region Range
Glaucidium jardinii SA w Venezuela to c Peru

Genus

Members of the genus Glaucidium are very small and tiny owls. They have rounded heads without ear-tufts. Their eyes are yellow. In many species the talons are, in relation to their size, very powerful. The facial disc is not very distinct. Some species have a large dark patch with a pale border on each side of the nape of the neck, looking like false eyes. Many are partly diurnal and sing from exposed perches. These are mostly very tenacious in the hunt, and show little fear, even of approaching humans. Glaucidium is a worldwide genus, containing some 30 species. Most of the Asian species, and some of the African species show physical and behavioural differences that suggest they might be better placed in Athene, and DNA evidence suggests that there is only a distant relationship between the Old World Pygmy Owls and those of the New World.

Physical charateristics

Iris is yellow which is an important field mark. It is brown above, head with small whitish spot on top, White eyebrow. Back spotted with buff and wings white and buff barred. Underparts mostly white, with hint of a brown bar across chest. Breast and belly sides barred or spotted brown. Tail dark with four narrow white bars.

Listen to the sound of Andean Pygmy Owl

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Andean Pygmy Owl.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 18 cm size max.: 19 cm
incubation min.: 0 days incubation max.: 0 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 0 days
broods: 0   eggs min.: 0  
      eggs max.: 0  

Range

South America : West Venezuela to Central Peru. Found in the mountains of northern Colombia to western Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru

Habitat

Semi-open Woodland,rain forest with dense canopy and more open undergrowth, riparian woodland, thornscrub.

Reproduction

Nest in tree cavity or old Woodpecker hole.

Feeding habits

Mostly birds and also large insects. Is more specialized in birds than other of its congeners.

Video Andean Pygmy Owl

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAvMnBVLfJI

copyright: Josep del Hoyo


Conservation

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Andean Pygmy Owl has recently been split into three species, Costa Rican Pygmy Owl and Yungas Pygmy Owl being the other new species.
Andean Pygmy Owl status Least Concern

Migration

Presumed resident

Distribution map

Andean Pygmy Owl distribution range map

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