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
Very small owlet. Facial disc ligth grey with whitish markings, short white eyebrows. Head and neck dark grey and dusky brown back and wings. Tail long with 3 faint bars, upper breast and flank rufous wash, rest of underparts whitish with the belly sided streaked rufous. Yellow iris and bill.
Listen to the sound of Red-chested Owlet
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Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
wingspan min.:
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cm
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size min.:
17
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size max.:
18
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incubation min.:
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incubation max.:
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fledging min.:
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fledging max.:
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broods:
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eggs min.:
2
eggs max.:
4
Range
Africa : West, Central
Habitat
Dense primary forest and forest-scrub mosaic. Found in lowlands and montane forest up to 2150m
Reproduction
Nests in a tree cavity, clutch size 2-4 eggs
Feeding habits
Diet consists of mainly insects caught in the canopy. Also small vertebrates. Favors edge of forest clearings, usually hunts at night.
Video Red-chested Owlet
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.
Migration
Resident and sedentary, young show some dispersal.
If you hear a mourning-dove around your house, some one in the house will die unless you tie a knot into each corner of your apron. Then the mourning-dove will stop mourning and go away.
Dear visitor, we started two exciting new projects on PoB. Unique on the net we started posting Vintage plates and bird descriptions from the dawn of ornithology. Next to this we collected stories about birds in mythology, fables and folk lore. Many of these stories are founded in what is nowadays called ethno-ornithology. The next few months we will be publishing about 2000 new posts... The past months were quiet on the posting front, but frantic in research. Enjoy and help us by posting or commenting your own stories, fables or bird legends.
Jan D.
Chief editor PoB.
Netherlands
Buzzards never build a nest, because small birds say to them, "when the sun shines, what is the use of building a nest? Sun shine. When it rains, build when the rain stop." Dumb Buzzard never does build a nest.
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A large francolin (Francolinus squamatus) calls loudly from low trees just about dusk in the evening, and again at about 4h in the morning, thus serving travellers as a sort of alarm-clock.
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