Species: Glaucidium gnoma

Northern Pygmy-Owl

Species

Birds

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Terrestrial vertebrates: birds

Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Craniata

Class

Aves

Order

Strigiformes

Family

Strigidae

Genus

Glaucidium

NatureServe

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100316

Classification

Other Global Common Names

Chevêchette naine - Tecolote Serrano

Informal Taxonomy

Animals, Vertebrates - Birds - Other Birds

Formal Taxonomy

Animalia - Craniata - Aves - Strigiformes - Strigidae - Glaucidium - .

Ecology and Life History

Short General Description

A small bird (owl).

Migration

true - true - false - In California and Arizona, linear territories were about 1.6 kilometers long (Marshall 1957, Noble 1990). In Oregon, singing males were separated by approximately 600 meters (D. Sater pers. comm., cited in Holt and Petersen 2000). In Colorado, territory estimated to be about 75 hectares (Rashid 1999, cited in Holt and Petersen 2000). Home ranges of breeding males in Washington were 170-230 hectares (A. Giese, pers. comm., cited in Holt and Petersen 2000). Home ranges of male Eurasian Pygmy-Owls in Sweden averaged 231 hectares (Kullberg 1995). Eurasian Pygmy-Owl have been reported to have breeding territories 50 to 400 hectares in size (Cramp 1985).

Non-migrant

true

Locally Migrant

true

Food Comments

This species is an opportunistic predator with a wide trophic niche; it feeds primarily on small birds, small mammals, insects, and reptiles. Stomach contents recorded from museum collections indicated that females ate significantly more small mammals than males did (Earhart and Johnson 1970). In Montana, mean body mass of vertebrate prey (birds and mammals) was about 38 grams, or 61% and 52% of male and female body mass respectively (Holt and Leroux 1996). Winter diet in Montana consisted of 36% birds (Holt and Leroux 1996). Northern pygmy-owls glides/dive down from an elevated perch to capture prey. Food items may be cached.

Reproduction Comments

Few nests have been studied. Egg dates: in North America from early April to mid-June; peak in late April to late May (Holt and Petersen 2000). Clutch size reportedly is 2-7 in North America (Holt and Petersen 2000); mean size reported to be 5 (n = 6, Bent 1938) and 3.7 (n = 10, Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology nest record cards). Incubation, by female, lasts probably about 28 days (Holt and Norton 1986); male brings food. After 9 days of age, young are fed by both parents, leave nest at about 23 days (Holt and Norton 1986).

Ecology Comments

These owls tend to be solitary or in highly dispersed pairs or family groups throughout the year (Johnsgard 1988).<br><br>They are often mobbed, by a large number of bird species ranging from hummingbirds to jays--most of which are potential prey (Holt and Petersen 2000). Occasionally, mobbing individuals are attacked and killed (Holman 1926, R.J. Cannings pers. comm.).

Length

Weight

Conservation Status

NatureServe Global Status Rank

G4G5

Global Status Last Reviewed

2009-03-19

Global Status Last Changed

2009-03-19

Distribution

Conservation Status Map

Global Range

GH - 200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles) - GH - This species is resident from southeast Alaska, portions of northern British Columbia, and southwestern Alberta south through the western United States, interior Mexico, and Guatemala to Honduras, and east to Colorado, central New Mexico, and western Texas; also in Cape district of Baja California Sur, Mexico (AOU 1998, Holt and Petersen 2000).

Global Range Code

Global Range Description

200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)

ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100316