Guatemalan pygmy owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guatemalan pygmy owl |
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| Guatemalan pygmy owl | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Glaucidium
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| Species: |
cobanense
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| Distribution of Guatemalan pygmy owl Resident | |
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The Guatemalan pygmy owl (Glaucidium cobanense) is a small owl. It is a type of "typical owl". Some scientists think it is a subspecies of the northern pygmy owl. This little owl lives in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
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About This Owl's Name
Scientists sometimes disagree about the Guatemalan pygmy owl. The International Ornithological Committee thinks it is a unique species. Other groups, like the North American Classification Committee, see it as a subspecies. This means they believe it is a type of northern pygmy owl.
What Does the Guatemalan Pygmy Owl Look Like?
This owl is about 17 cm (6.7 inches) long. It comes in two main colors. Some are mostly reddish-brown. Others are gray-brown. The reddish-brown owls are more common.
Its head and back are the main color. They have lighter spots. Its tail is the same color. It has four lighter bands underneath. The back of its neck has black and white marks. These marks look like eyes. This might help scare away predators.
The reddish-brown owls have small, light spots on their forehead. Their chest is pale. It has strong streaks of the main body color. This owl has a soft face. It has pale "eyebrows" and "mustaches." Its beak, eyes, and feet are yellow.
Where the Guatemalan Pygmy Owl Lives
The Guatemalan pygmy owl lives in Chiapas state in Mexico. It also lives throughout Guatemala and into Honduras. It prefers the edges of forests. It likes open areas in mountain landscapes. These include pine forests and cloudforests. It is usually found above 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) in elevation.
How the Guatemalan Pygmy Owl Behaves
Movement
Scientists believe this owl mostly stays in one place. However, it might move to different elevations during certain seasons.
Feeding Habits
We do not have separate details about this owl's diet. But it is similar to the northern pygmy owl. That owl eats many different things. These include reptiles, small mammals, birds, and insects. It mostly hunts during the day. It probably hunts into the evening too.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding habits of this owl are also similar to the northern pygmy owl. Northern pygmy owls seem to pair up for one season. They defend a nesting area. They build nests in tree holes. These can be natural holes or ones made by woodpeckers. The nest might be lined with feathers and soft bark.
They can lay two to seven eggs. We do not know exactly how long the eggs take to hatch. We also do not know how long it takes for the young to leave the nest. The female owl sits on the eggs. She also cares for the young birds. The male owl usually brings most of the food.
Vocalization
The Guatemalan pygmy owl has a special call. It makes a fast series of "toot" notes. There is little or no pause between them. It sounds like "toot-toot-toot-toot'toot-toot'toot-toot...."
Conservation Status
The IUCN has listed the Guatemalan pygmy owl as "Least Concern". This means it is not currently in danger. However, its population size is unknown. Scientists believe its numbers might be going down. No specific threats have been found for this owl. It is considered uncommon in the areas where it lives.
